I went to the dentist yesterday. My new hygienist, a very nice lady, is very chatty (which makes it a one-sided conversation, considering the sharp metal objects in my mouth). She asked me what I did and I told her that I'm a composer.
She was shocked and somewhat amazed. In the "wow good for you for doing something so nutty and living, you're so lucky" kind of way. I wasn't offended, angry, or anything about it.
I was just...Meh. :/
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
LeBron James is NOT the King
An egregious error has been made: ESPN has named LeBron James as the #1 player in the NBA.
Are. You. Kidding. Me?!
No argument from me that LeBron is the most talented player. There's no question and anyone who disagrees is kidding themselves. He's too fast, too strong, too big. He has a decent jumper, decent range, great passer, and ball-handler.
But he is not the #1 player in the NBA.
One these guys is not like the others.
In order to be #1, a player needs to have greatness. When I think of greatness, names like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, the list goes on. I'll add Dwyane Wade to the mix, as well. What do all these players have in common? They were All-Star players at their positions, current or soon-to-be hall of famers, many of whom were MVPs (or multiple), had one or more championships, and most importantly, were CLUTCH PLAYERS.
I'll even excuse the lack of championships to be considered great. But not that so-called "clutch gene." The desire to not only want the ball in important moments but the ability to make the shot, the block, the steal, THE play to help the team win. LeBron does not possess that gene and people argued back-and-forth for the first 8 years of his playing career. But after his abysmal performance in the 2011 Finals, particularly in the 4th quarter, THE clutch quarter, he came up small, averaging 2 points in the 4th quarter for 4 straight games. That's unreal and that's not greatness.
Even more infuriating is that he's unquestionably the most talented player in the league and yet is unable to make the play in the clutch.
LeBron is top 10, maybe even top 5, but he's not #1. Give me Dwyane, give me Kobe, give me Kevin Durant. Don't give me LBJ in the 4th quarter.
Are. You. Kidding. Me?!
No argument from me that LeBron is the most talented player. There's no question and anyone who disagrees is kidding themselves. He's too fast, too strong, too big. He has a decent jumper, decent range, great passer, and ball-handler.
But he is not the #1 player in the NBA.
One these guys is not like the others.
In order to be #1, a player needs to have greatness. When I think of greatness, names like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, the list goes on. I'll add Dwyane Wade to the mix, as well. What do all these players have in common? They were All-Star players at their positions, current or soon-to-be hall of famers, many of whom were MVPs (or multiple), had one or more championships, and most importantly, were CLUTCH PLAYERS.
Perhaps the greatest of all time.
I'll even excuse the lack of championships to be considered great. But not that so-called "clutch gene." The desire to not only want the ball in important moments but the ability to make the shot, the block, the steal, THE play to help the team win. LeBron does not possess that gene and people argued back-and-forth for the first 8 years of his playing career. But after his abysmal performance in the 2011 Finals, particularly in the 4th quarter, THE clutch quarter, he came up small, averaging 2 points in the 4th quarter for 4 straight games. That's unreal and that's not greatness.
Even more infuriating is that he's unquestionably the most talented player in the league and yet is unable to make the play in the clutch.
LeBron is top 10, maybe even top 5, but he's not #1. Give me Dwyane, give me Kobe, give me Kevin Durant. Don't give me LBJ in the 4th quarter.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Can't Bite My (Sports) Tongue
I've tried to keep this blog as sports-free as possible (though I've failed on a few occasions) but I can't do it anymore, especially now that I have the time to actually better keep up.
CONGRATULATIONS to my 49ers and to the gritty HC Jim Harbaugh on their win at the vaunted *yes I said vaunted* Detroit Lions on Sunday. Forget the handshake, how about their record at 5-1? (Let's think about this, too: if not for some clutch play from Tony Romo, who IS a clutch player more often than not, they'd be undefeated). Way to go!
"Who's got it better than us?" NOBODY!!
CONGRATULATIONS to my 49ers and to the gritty HC Jim Harbaugh on their win at the vaunted *yes I said vaunted* Detroit Lions on Sunday. Forget the handshake, how about their record at 5-1? (Let's think about this, too: if not for some clutch play from Tony Romo, who IS a clutch player more often than not, they'd be undefeated). Way to go!
"Who's got it better than us?" NOBODY!!
Monday, October 17, 2011
8 Weeks In, Still Going Strong
It's been 8 weeks since the start of the academic year at UT (and pretty much any other semester-based university) and my fears of being nostalgic have proven to be anything but.
I haven't had a break from school since kindergarten. KINDERGARTEN. That's 1987 folks. 13 years of primary and secondary school, 4 years of college, and 7 total years of graduate school, fall 2011 is my first Fall off since the fall of 1986.
It's been GREAT.
Only academia can make you think that leaving the house at 7am and getting back home after 7pm is normal if you're not a business person, attorney, physician, business owner, etc. That not going to school at all is absurd. That if you sleep in on a weekday, you should be flogged.
I'm getting more music written regularly than I ever have before. I have a modest line of commissions set up for the year and have a wonderful and brilliant wife who supports me spending my time writing. (In her words, most non-academic, entry-level jobs might annoy me and she'd have to listen to me complain about it every day. VERY TRUE. :)
I do miss teaching. A lot. I'm itching to teach again, the daily interaction with undergrads or grad students. But I don't miss the grading. I HATED the grading (but who doesn't, no?).
I'm looking forward to applying to another round of faculty positions around the country and get back in the groove, but if the last 8 weeks are any sort of indicator, I'm going to enjoy this academic year, much more than I had anticipated.
I haven't had a break from school since kindergarten. KINDERGARTEN. That's 1987 folks. 13 years of primary and secondary school, 4 years of college, and 7 total years of graduate school, fall 2011 is my first Fall off since the fall of 1986.
It's been GREAT.
Only academia can make you think that leaving the house at 7am and getting back home after 7pm is normal if you're not a business person, attorney, physician, business owner, etc. That not going to school at all is absurd. That if you sleep in on a weekday, you should be flogged.
I'm getting more music written regularly than I ever have before. I have a modest line of commissions set up for the year and have a wonderful and brilliant wife who supports me spending my time writing. (In her words, most non-academic, entry-level jobs might annoy me and she'd have to listen to me complain about it every day. VERY TRUE. :)
I do miss teaching. A lot. I'm itching to teach again, the daily interaction with undergrads or grad students. But I don't miss the grading. I HATED the grading (but who doesn't, no?).
I'm looking forward to applying to another round of faculty positions around the country and get back in the groove, but if the last 8 weeks are any sort of indicator, I'm going to enjoy this academic year, much more than I had anticipated.
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