March of Champions

"Go on Giggsy!" As Sir Ryan goes, I go at times. Hoping the legend's late goal last Sunday is a sign of things to come.







Back in Ottawa and on the blog after a great couple of weeks. I enjoyed my trip to home, even if it might have been a reminder as to why I am more than happy to be away from the Island during its crazy ahrsh winters.

There was an old advertisement on my mind today.

“If I give you a clean sheet, what will you write?
Will your words be long and graceful, or short and sweet?
Will it be poetry, or just plain English?
If you have something to say, say it now.
For soon, always too soon my sheet will be filled.
And this chapter will end sure as the next will begin.
With a clean sheet…
new authors…
and a million possibilities.”

Looking forward to a great March!

Reading Week: Heading to Prince Edward Island

(Photo of my nephew Samuel pointing to where his Nana and Papa live).

Prince Edward Isle, to thee
Our hearts shall faithful be

The last time I was home in February, I was in the middle of climbing up the proverbial playoff mountain with the Pownal Red Devils. It's "Spring Break" at the University of Ottawa and I am heading home to PEI check in with the parents, check in with Moulded Image and perhaps find some wine. I won a 10-dollar gift certificate from the Merchantman Pub so it's looking like it will be an old fashioned Friday night on PEI... likely hitting the Canton later as well.

Happy to say I have landed a few more publications. I have a piece on choosing the right sports management program for a Culture Magazine/Blog. They also want me to write a piece on scrapbooking... who me?

The winter rolls along...

Ottawa Update

(Photos: my new faculty ID and my picture of me at the computer while making Coq au Vin last week).















Where am I, now? I am in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Similar to my previous position, I left NYU with excellent written performance evaluations. Only this time, as an adjunct, there were simply no classes for me to teach (except to be truthful and thankful, with less emotional scars). However, I am happy to say I will be teaching at the University of Ottawa/Universite d’Ottawa (Canada’s only official bilingual University marketed as “Canada’s University”) this semester. Besides its excellent academic reputation, I am also being provided with 4 Teaching Assistants to mentor.

I didn’t exactly want to leave the center of the universe but the award of being close to my nephews and also being able see my parents more often (12 hours away but a cheaper flight) has been so far a VERY nice bonus. Living in an amazing sublet (half of my NYC cost) in the Hintonburg area (great neighborhood for theatre, markets, and restaurants) of Ottawa for 4 months before possibly heading home to teach a class at UPEI this summer.

As far as next Fall, I am merely asking that the "Did you hear anything?" questions be put on hold. I can tell you that Andrei Kirilenko went to Russia this past year during the NBA stoppage and he's expected back someday.

At this time I simply want to thank Bob Boland for allowing me to live the dream in allowing me to live in the greatest city in the world in 2011. To my NYC friends I have made in the last 12 months, you are still in my heart and always will be. I hope to see you all at the Giggs/Cormier “Shared testimonial” at Nevada Smith’s in May of 2012 or 2013 (Giggs will determine if it’s still on... then again, if I am really like “Sir Ryan”, perhaps we will both be back next year).

Meanwhile, to all my friends, please know that the heat is always on here (because yes, it’s cold!). If you’re ever up for a skate on the Rideau, followed by a beaver tail, and of course, a hot toddy to warm up even more after, please let me know. On the rink called life, I can only tell you to skate straight, keep your head up, and always be “stick ready” (stick on the ice with both hands!) because you just never know what kind of rebound you’ll get. I certainly enjoyed the last rebound. And what an experience! I will always love New York.

There you have it...an update. Still smiling...

Top 5 NYC Moments

Top 5 moments in order of photos...
1. “Manchester United beats Chelsea”. Cinco de Mayo Thursday makes for an extended weekend, texts from the graduation ceremony from the class of 2011 back in Massachusetts on Saturday followed by the greatest day of my life: United wins the league, I do brunch, have an afternoon nap, have a great dinner, and inspired by Ryan Giggs, have another great night out with karaoke until 3 AM (photo of my Nevada Smith’s lads).

2. Birthday week. It was a typical week but that’s what made it so great. East Village living just seemed extra special those three days but highlighted with a great Thanksgiving day.

3. Fall 2011 Class two offering… I was on PEI but it involved New York. Singing “New York State of Mind”, Sinatra’s “New York, New York” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqlJl1LfDP4) and “One Day Like This” until 2 AM.

4. Family visit(s). My late grandfather once said if he made a million dollars, he was going to New York. Meeting my parents at Grand Central on their way back from Florida and having dinner with my brother and father at Les Halles. Watching the Canadiens with the tickets bought my former students.

5. New York Public Library moments… researching and writing an article for the Encyclopedia of Sports management and Sports Marketing, having lunch on outside terrace one day, and skating at the Bryant pond. The fact that I taught across the street from the NYPL is still mind boggling to me. Like a dream.

Honorable (too many to) mention. “Class nights”- I love what I do and absolutely think NYU brought back my love of teaching after a challenging final chapter in Massachusetts, reuniting with my childhood girlfriend Katherine, Brooklyn nights and mornings with Stevo, playoff games at the Blue Moon, great dinners at the Post House with Bob, wine nights at Uncorked, Winebar, and Von wine bar ($4 happy hour), Sunday NFL football at 13th Step, Trader Joe’s budget, poutine at Pommes Frites, Halal Cart on 53rd and 6th, “Hope and Beauty” moments in May, NYSC workouts, Grande Skinny Caramel Mocs at Starbucks, people watching and coffee at Think on the corner of Bowery and Bleeker, 2A nights, amazing brunches at Cinema Café and Black Swan, meeting the actual practitioners of professional sports, lobster paella at El Paso, ball hockey games and post-game parties at Tompkins Square, Rooney’s bicycle kick, Molded Image’s win, meeting the NY Knicks dancers, West Village dates, Central Park walks, and finding peace with the UES...

5K Goal Mission Accomplished!

The sub-20 5K goal was set back in 2006. Between a partially torn Achilles in 2007, finding bad dieting for a while (the effects of “I can afford to eat anything?!” after grad school), running again in 2009 (talked about my goal in the “Last Lecture” series) only to find myself off track again, it has been a journey. So the commitment to fitness and losing about 20lbs., increasing my leg strength, and intervals lead to today on the treadmill (who I have had some other battles with recently) on a post-workout cardio run.

Not sure what it was but basically I was at 10:02 at the 1.5 mile mark going at a 6:00/mile pace, I felt good and I said (probably out loud) "we are in touching distance of a sub 20:00 3-mile” (still recognizing that a 5K is 3.1 miles) so I increased the tempo with the idea that I would do it for a 40-second interval. I kept it going at about 5:40/mile pace until I reached the 2-mile mark at 13:00 and dropped it back to the 6:00/mile pace knowing I could clinch the 3.1 mark at 19:40. I hung in there... and finished with a flurry and was at 19:30 at the 3.1 mile mark.

I can only say it’s amazing when you accomplish something like this. There were no cameras, no cheering, no fanfare but just a bewildered person on the treadmill next to me wondering why I was pumping my fist in my cool down. That’s the glory of running and the glory of sport… finding yourself believing you can do anything in life on a Friday afternoon at New York Sports Club gym in the East Village.

Special thanks to Stephanie who set this goal for me many eons ago and all the people who trudge along in the gym trying to become better simply for the most important person: yourself.

Bridges...

Clinton had his bridge to the 21st century and Sarah Palin had hers to.... when I look at the photo of the Washington bridge, one of the many that take you the island of Manhattan (interesting fact: Hudson discovered it on September 11th), and noticing one thing: there are two lanes to this bridge. This bridge leads to the greatest city that home to every major sports league's operation and home to 6 professional sport franchises, not counting the teams close the area in Long Island and New Jersey. It's where I am teaching classes with people working in the field. When you take the lane to go away from the bridge, it's the rest of the college and universities schools making sure their students get their sport management degrees doing internships with minor league teams and the in-school athletics department, where faculty conduct research that only their peers will read.

As such, loving my life in the East Village teaching at a school where the program isn't just a cash cow but a viable degree where students can gain entry into the field. Looking myself in the mirror is easy. Who made this all happen? Apparently, it was the people who burned the bridge. Happy swimming.

Eric Cantona once said... wait! ( I'm up to here with your philosophy. I'm still getting over the seagulls!) in the movie "Looking for Eric" that

"The most noblest form of revenge is forgiveness"

The Art of Losing

(Picture: NYC apartment last week before going to a function on campus)


Wow.


NYU?


Word slowly gets out.


What happened?


No comment.


I am living in NYC and can afford it.




"One Art"
By Elizabeth Bishop (Worcester, MA)

The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.

--Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

------------------------------------------
Closure on November 22, 2009 to come soon...

Closure on November 22, 2010 to come later...

I might get my voice back soon.

Sardines are still following the trawler, apparently. Mr. Eric has apparently signed for me a NY Cosmos jersey.

Regardless, the Renaissance is alive and well.

Happy New Year From Florida!!

When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea- Eric Cantona

"A Renaissance Man"...should have a detached, cool, nonchalant attitude, and speak well, sing, recite poetry, have proper bearing, be athletic, know the humanities and classics, paint and draw and possess many other skills, always without showy or boastful behavior. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymath).

New developments in my life... as such Mark Twain's quote on rumors of his death and some Frank Sinatra lyrics MIGHT be appropriate, but for now a George Costanza quote:

"I am back, baby!"

Happy New Year!

Food and Exercise

It's been an interesting time as usual in New England. Year 4 has started with my running 125 miles since August 7th and a "Fresh Start" in my approach to teaching. Between a daily exercise routine and weekly trivia routine on Thursday, I am finding myself in rituals.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving weekend.

Perks of the Job

With a student interning with the Yankees, I threw a shirt and tie in a bag and made the 5 hour trip to NYC on Tuesday. After having a quick little dinner at Bobby Flay's "Bar Americain" (fulfilled another little dream goal... been dying to get there forever!), I made my way over to the stadium. It certainly is a modern day Roman Coliseum... of course, the $300 tickets may have helped a lot!

Love the city and I am already looking forward to my program's next trip there in the Fall semester. Off to send out a Thank You note. Ironically, I will be at Fenway on Sunday!

PEI Vacation 2010

One week back from my trip "back home", and I am still in denial. The pictures are in chronolgical order with the video clip at the end from the sailing week... And if a picture is worth a thousand words, the best way to describe the summer at home was "busy". Whether it was first feed of lobster, Canada Day weekend, golfing in the Charlottetown Boys and Girls Club golf tourney (pictured with Bruins prospect Nathan MacIver), sailing in a regatta, attending my 20th High School reunion, or seeing Newfoundland for the first time. It was a terrific trip home. Mom and Dad still are the tops when it comes to my feeling at home.

I wanted to make sure that I mentioned that I saw Leigh MacMillan during the reunion. It was so awesome to know that my blog had another dedicated reader. Jeff and Leigh had apparently been on their own similar "road less traveled" and were very close to New Mexico when I was there, living in Texas. As far as Leigh's comment, "You seem to hold back on here"... it can be best answered with Eric Cantona's answer to reporters after he was suspended for karate kicking a fan.

When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.

There was talk of creating a new blog under a fictional name. Between thiefs being caught on a webcam, the Dr. Phil twins, and some of the other odd adventures post-dissertation, there have been some unbelievable "you can't make this up" moments... but I have learned that you certainly can get in trouble in telling them.

Wishing everybody a terrific end of summer.

Ottawa Weekend

Pictures... "The trip that keeps on giving". Many people have noticed that it was empty; Samuel helping Papa out with the pasta; Thomas and I enjoying a post-pasta picture together.

Nice to get some updated pictures of the nephews after my camera and laptop were stolen last November. Not sure where my life is taking me right now. Home on the Island... or sticking it in Auburn longer. I have a New Mexico visitor coming.

California 2010

A new look to my ol' blog.

To my world, I am back on here. Most of 2008 deleted along with most of my previous life. Unless certain parts are brought up... yet again... they will not be seen.

Now for California. A great trip. I strongly advise a trip after the abrupt end to a school year comes along. I flew in on Wednesday and was happy I had a place close to the airport booked the first night as it helped me gain my bearings. The 6-hour flight did tire me out. However, when I landed I was happy with the texts telling me that the Canadiens won Game 7 against the Penguins. Epic moment.

Day 1 was spent taking the BART to downtown, picking uop my Jeep Wrangler, picking up my Sirrus Specialized bike (a great rental as well!). I loved Bouchaine Winery as I was given an hour and 15 minutes and provided with some great inside information. I loved the Carneros district. I then hit downtown Napa running into some maritimers doing the chicken dance. Entertainment!

Day 2 I biked 21 miles from my hotel through the Stag's Leap District and back. After barely making it through dinner at the Bouchon Bakery (exercise and wine plus food intake equals passing out), I slept well. Thomas Keller's restaurant comes highly recommended.

Day 3 was spent at the sterling Vineyard... great spot before biking back to my parking spot at the Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga. After chekcing in my hotel, I completed a dream journey to DeLoach vineyards followed by a great dinner at the Harvest Moon Cafe. Amazing spot.

Day 4 was spent at Benziger Winery. This was an amazing spot! I also bought the book "Hope's Edge". I then made my way into Petaluma... a great night. My last two days, I toured San Francisco, saw Alcatraz, biked Golden Gate, saw Sausalito, went to Restaurant Gary Danko (two month reservation)... and left with a little calamity. Met some great people...

FYI: Scrapbooking... that's a whole new industry!

Currently working on our COSMA certification. Off to Ottawa to go see the family for Samuel's birthday.

The Final Push...

Pictures of 1. My first Weber. 2. First family road trip in 21 years. 3. Dad's retirement weekend.









Huh? What just happened? Florida came and went (19 college kids and I was one of two coaches... never is a long time but never again!). I went home, we came back, we did Opening Day, and next week is tennis playoffs?!

This week... off to Carolina for the College Sport Research Institute (CSRI) conference in Chapel Hill where I am presenting twice, taking an undergraduate team to a case study competition, and participating in the Annual Drake Group activities.

Conference, last week of classes, exam week, graduation, our annual faculty retreat and then... I am allowed to say it... the countdown to my May trip to California is on. 22 days to Napa!

*Happy Birthday to Dianne Brander and happy 42nd wedding anniversary to Mom and Dad.

Orlando, Part II

As the cycle of life continues, we often find new traditions begin. Looking forward to catching up with Paul over coffee this week at the hot tub before the tennis team wakes up. Jogging begins back with less effort this week, too. While there is less excitement in my life than this time last year, this also means less drama...

Looking forward to my week with 70 degree temperatures.

Canada Wins!

Photo: Post-game champagne after the game for the ages! I am celebrating not getting any abuse for 4 years.




What a month. That's all I can say. It began with a championship in intramurals, a court case, the Olympics, impromptu pub crawls and ended with a day where United wins the Carling Cup and of course Canada's 3-2 win over the USA.

Winter Survival

Pictures... loving my fireplace, my Napa/Sonoma trip has been planned, dreamed about, and booked, and finally, after the great efforts in intramurals, I got to pose by the ultimate soccer club championship trophy.

Oh, the stories... between court dates and limo rides on pub crawls, it's been quite a month already. 20 days to Orlando...

Joel

Champion Again...

As the picture shows, after playing intramurals at several schools as a student, I finally can say I won an intramural championship winning the NISL (Nichols Indoor Soccer League) championship last night with Dappermans FC. My first championship since the UNM Icewolves won the Southwest Showcase and my first as a participant since the 1997 Alpine Rec. League Championship. At 37 years old, you begin to appreciate these things more.

Back in November of 2006 on my birthday while having breakfast at "The Grove" on Central Avenue (miss that place!) in ol' ABQ, I set the "Big Four" goals I wanted to accomplish, one of which was "to one more championship or race as a player or participant". While I fell short that year in a few of my efforts (despite a great hat trick performance in the UNM playoffs), a great job, a Ph.D., and a championship won have eventually come along... nice to see the running on the beach last summer and in Florida also eventually paid off as well.

It's 6 AM the day after a big game and I am wide awake... I feel like a kid again. Campione, campione, ole, ole, ole!

Beginning of the Third Winter Semester

This morning I somehow had the wherewithal to take a picture at 6:30 AM to capture the moment. So here I am holding up three fingers to signify my third WINTER semester at Nichols. At the end of this year, I will have spent more time at Nichols than any other school... wow. Despite the snow, I am quite happy to be at Nichols College.

Big news... my court date is on February 8th. My Red Sox tickets are in my usual hiding spot so that means my favorite ex-landlord's heoin addict roommate still might be able to find them if he gets into my house in the near future.

Florida dreaming... heading back there in 52 days for tennis.