Sports Talk: Olympic Trials, Successes and Failures

As a correspondent sports writer for The Casey County News, I write an weekly editorial column for the publication. Published June 27. 

There is so, so much I could contribute to the sports world in this week’s column. I’ll go ahead and break it to you that I’m not going to recap the NBA draft. (Sorry, Wildcat fans. It is a cool historical event, though.)

I am very interested in the long-awaited end to the BCS Bowl series in college football, which is being replaced by a four-team playoff beginning in 2014; but I’ll save my college football rants for the fall.

As I sit on my couch to write this and the Olympic Trials broadcast before me and my American pride begins to glow; how can I write about anything else?

No matter the sport the TV is displaying, it has my attention. The Olympics themselves will hold their own appeal, of course, but the trials are just as compelling and sometimes more heartbreaking for me to watch.

At least in the Olympics you have a team to root for. For me, the athletes  at the trials are all incredibly amazing and dedicated athletes taking their one shot to make it to the real deal in London. I have no one to root against.

There is no doubt in my mind that even the last place finisher or lowest scorer in these trials has incredible skill and strength. Some of them compete in the trials, simply happy to be there, knowing their chances of making the team are slim to none compared to their competition.

Others come with hope for a first trip or the hope for a medal in London or a hope for a second chance at a missed opportunity in Beijing. One crucial moment can make or break that.

I find myself watching 45-year-old Tara Dorres move through the water as though she was born in it the waves, and capture win after win to make her sixth trip to the Olympic arena. Forty-five? Really??

The I turn around to see not-quite-sixteen-year-old Kyla Ross stand solo in front of thousands to face a set of uneven bars. Her should, legs, abs, and arms could put any athlete to shame. And I called myself a ‘serious’ athlete at that age??

While you want the best of the best to represent the U.S. in London, it is still heart wrenching to watch another athlete—whom has also put in training beyond anything I can imagine—just miss the cut.

Seeing Nastia Liuken plummet to the ground during her uneven bar routine sent the crowd silent as well as the announcers. Alone on the stage with such an extreme error leaves most without words; however, with the conclusion of her routine came thunderous applause for her courage.

Liuken will not be traveling to London after claiming five medals in 2008.

Hearing the gun shoot twice instantly at the start of the men’s 200-meter semi-final track and field event was a downer. One false start and Texas Christian University’s Charles Silmon was done. It’s not that Silmon was expected to qualify in the 200; but he’d earned his right to be there, and a silly mistake put him out of the competition.

The Olympics and trials, both, give us both moments of triumph and moments of heartbreak, but that is what makes them so special. It’s not pee-wee anymore. Not everyone gets to be there and of those that make it, not all of them can bring home a medal.

I am proud of and excited for all of those athletes who will be representing our stars and stripes later this month. Congrats and I’m looking forward to cheering on Team U.S.A. Happy Independence Day!

Sports Talk: Reminiscing The Dream Team

As a correspondent sports writer for The Casey County News, I write an weekly editorial column for the publication. Published June 27.

It's finally happened: LeBron James has his NBA title seven years into his career and two years after his big move to the Miami Heat. It is hard for me to believe the guy is less than a year older than me and dominating this nation-wide loved sport.

As exciting as the Miami win is for the Heat fans and LeBron lovers and, of course, the players and franchise itself, the attention of basketball lovers from East to West is already shifting on to the next big thing.

What is the next big thing?

There’s always plenty in hoops nation. First off, tomorrow is the much-anticipated NBA draft where all will see their favorite amateurs officially go pro. Even if it can be assumed which jersey Anthony Davis will claim (New Orleans...??), we all want to see where are favorite college stars land and which up-and-coming talents our favorite pro teams land.

Second off, no matter where Davis goes, his and LeBron's title claiming for the year is not quite over. Davis and LeBron and even Oklahoma's Kevin Durante will be joining forces to wear the same uniform on the United States Olympic team in late July. Once again, those who were rivals just last week and over the past four years will come together as the best of the best to claim gold in London.

While keeping up with our favorite college teams or following the NBA season after season may be the highlight of your sports world, there will always be pride in America's Olympic team. 

Basketball has been held at every Summer Olympic event since 1936 and the U.S. team has made it on the medal stands all but one year, 1980. In fact, we have only not been at the top of the stands holding gold four times. Most recently, we took third in the 2004 Athens Olympics. 

Ah, yes, so much constant excitement in the basketball world at this very moment; however, even amid the draft, the Heat's title and the upcoming Olympic team, there is chatter of the past.

Last week was the release of the documentary "The Dream Team," featuring the 1992 Olympic championship team made up of the likes of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, John Stockton, Larry Byrd, and Charles Barkley--just to name a few. Twenty years later and even those not around to experience the Dream Team know who they are.

The revisit to the 1992 team has surfaced one question among many of today's fans: How would the Dream Team hold up to today's all-stars and future Hall of Famers in the NBA? 

I will not pretend to have the knowledge to weigh in on that debate. Here is what I do believe, though: It was a lot more than skill on the court that immortalized the Dream Team for ages to come.

Big personalities in addition to skills made up the '92 team, making them a full package deal when it comes to entertainment. Additionally, though, they were the heroes who won the Olympics after the U.S. had fallen to the Soviet Union in the semi-finals in 1988.

Even more, they made up the first United States Olympic team composed of professional basketball players rather than amateurs only. They stepped into the global arena and dominated with 40-point margin victories.

Witnessing these amazing athletes bring pride to our nation in such a brilliant way—Olympic gold—was a first. In 2010 the entire team was inducted to the basketball Hall of Fame (after ten of the guys had done it individually already). That goes to show what that team is and will always be in our nation’s eyes and hearts.

I have to believe that despite what talent comes through the NBA, another Dream Team will require more than just a bucket of talent. I do not doubt that LeBron will live on long after his career. I am sure a number of the Olympic players this year will eventually be in the Hall of Fame; but it will take something beyond individual talent coming together for moment’s time to claim a title to ever go down in history as a team.

Things that make me smile....

It's been a busy May, just like it was a busy April. The good news is it's been good either way. Sorry for the lack of posts. I wish I had time to write and post pictures more frequently, but maybe later in the summer once these two weddings are past that I am in the first two weekends in June.

In the mean time... a few things that make me happy:

Jackamo getting his summer cut--done by none other than me & my Mingus!

Flowers picked for me by my Mingus! :)

Fishing... Just like Riding A Bike

Last weekend was absolutely beautiful, especially in my off and away land in Central Kentucky. I was fortunate enough to spend the entire weekend at home and spend some time with visiting family. My cousin, who also lives on the family property, has three kids--two sons and a daughter--and their dad took them fishing at our pond on Saturday. 

The oldest son is almost 10 and I believe the other is going on 8 while her daughter just turned 5. Their dad, quite fond of fishing, was excited to hear from the hubs that the pond was seeming to be quite full of fishies as of late and was more than happy to take the kids over. 

Meanwhile, my grandmother, fondly referred to as Grammo by me and many others, was having one of those mornings/days where she was slow to get moving. At age 87, she is typically overwhelmed in a day's time with so many "tasks" that include taking morning, lunch, dinner and night pills and supplements, getting her knee brace and foot pads on and getting her "walking" in. With early alzheimers, she is often times discouraged by the things she no longer feels capable of doing. We have all learned, though, that her best days are those when she gets outside--which is more often with the spring weather.

My cousin got helped her fix up a lunch plate and the two of them came out to the patio to eat and enjoy the fresh air. I joined them about the time the kiddos were making it back from the pond. Grammo had just heard where they'd been and was quite excited, asking them about their fishing fun. "Gosh," she said. "I can just remember doing that! I feel like I still could sometimes!" and she'd mimic casting. Conversation went on to other topics and we sat on the patio for the next 30 minutes or so chatting. About the time I was off to other things Grammo brought the focus back to fishing repeating a comment similar to the one earlier. 

That was it, we weren't letting the opportunity pass her by or let her sit there and think her fishing days were over. "Let's go, Grammo. We'll take you." She mildly resisted, but I think it was more out of being considerate and not wanting to impose on us--knowing she couldn't go it alone. My cousin and I went for a pile of dirt with a cup and the kids helped us gather a collection of worms. Jon drove her across the creek and we brought a folding chair and set it along side the pond. Clay, who'd been doing the fishing with the kids earlier, cast out the line and handed over the reel.

In the next 20 minutes, Grammo caught FIVE fish. Two bass and three blue gill (or maybe it was the other way around...) Two narrowly escaped, but that was partially out of letting the kids help her reel in those two. She caught one on that very first cast. There's no doubt, that Grammo has still got it. When the kids gave it a try she was right next to them coaching them along, "Okay, start to reel it in some... oh there's one! Jerk it! Jerk!"

It was such a joy for those of us there to see Grammo truly living in the moment and enjoying herself. So often she'll tell us about the dreams she has and the things she gets done and can do; but wakes up and feels trapped in a body prohibiting her desires. Last weekend we got to not just let her live out something she usually just dreams about at night, but we had the chance to prove to her that she's not incapable of all of the things she loves to do. 

For us, it was a blessing to spend this time with our grandmother we love so much and get so many laughs out of. Such busy lives we lead...but there are always more important things worth slowing down to appreciate. It was definitely a "stop and smell the roses" opportunity.

April Showers bring... Babies and Weddings!!

How is April almost over? I swear it was just last week when I blogged...right?? Where has the time gone? Oh wait... I know...

Showers! Parties! And MORE Showers!!!

My Fridge is running out of invitation room!!

First Weekend: Easter with the Dixon family.

Second Weekend: Jon's Birthday

Second Weekend: Kelli's Baby Shower for little Aiden

Third Weekend: Holly Jo & Michael's Stock the Bar Wedding Shower

Third Weekend: Holly Jo's Family Shower

Oh and don't you worry... the month's not over yet! One more weekend! That mean's I have another wedding shower! Plus we have a family gathering, which makes for a second wedding shower PLUS a baby shower I, sadly, won't be able to attend! 

I'll have a shot breather at the beginning of May before I have four BUSY weekends: Bachelorette in Nashville, bachelorette in Chicago, wedding in Lexington, wedding in Louisville! Let the fun commence!!

Lots of love to all my friends during this happy, wonderful time in their lives! God is good!