Monday, March 23, 2009

Okay ... I PROMISE ...

Song for the spring ...

... and maybe the summer too! But first ...

SPORTS ... AS LIFE!

Purdue and State have advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. Didn't catch the Purdue game, so I don't know how Jimmy Chit-, er, Robbie Hummel played. I like his game. He always finds something to do to help his team.

The State game against USC was very intriguing. I think that the more atheletic players were on the USC squad, and they were actually bigger at key positions than State. But Tom Izzo is a very good coach, and he molds TEAMS. They play well together, and rarely come apart in close, tense games. The game Sunday was a case in point.

Near the end of the game, with the Spartans ahead by no more than a couple of baskets, if you studied the shots of the teams benches ... the State bench players were composed, and ready. Meanwhile, the Trojans seemed to have a hole in their composure. It looked like they were expecting to lose, instead of believing that the players on the court could do the job, it seemed like they were saying, "...dag, if Coach put me in, I could do it better than they could!"

Their body language was all over the place. The players on the court also played frazzled. State players, were as Stuart Scott of ESPN would say, were as "cool as the other side of the pillow."

The Spartans did what they have been doing most of the decade, won their first two games and made the Sweet Sixteen. They are due a Final Four, as no senior class has graduated without a chance at it. That speaks to the stability and consistency in East Lansing. To be able to say with no hesistancy, 'come play for State, and you will get a shot at a national championship,' is a big draw. There is another character trait about Coach Izzo that I think is important, but later for that.

"Expect victory." That is what Gary Barnett told his players at Northwestern when he was their football coach. I wonder if the coach told something like that to the Lady Cardinal as they took the floor against Pat Summit and the Lady Vols Sunday.

That Ball State went to Knoxville and won that game, was EASILY the biggest upset in college sports in the last 25 years ... it was the girls first torunament game, and they beat a team that history essentially built women's college basketball. This is huge. Watching the story on ESPN, the Cardinal's women team were extremely loose as if they couldn't lose. And they didn't! I wonder if Beth caught the news ... I will be sure to mention it when I get over to 'the Junction"!

WHO SHOULD I BELIEVE IN?

Though like most 'in between' teens, I had songs that 'spoke' for me, like 'How Soon Is Now?', and 'Once In A Lifetime' (which is still a great song for any situation), the idea of a 'song for a season' didn't stike me until I heard Costeau's mellow, 'Last Good Day of the Year', earlier in the decade. I remember thinking how do you know when it is the last good day of the year, and really does it mean more than whether or not it is a balmy fall day?

Then this band !!! (Chk, Chk, Chk), a too cool for school New York band, did a song called, 'The Feel Good Hit of the Fall'. While bubble gum pop will produce a jaunty tune for the masses, I really hadn't heard a 'seasonal' song until now.

Most of my recent music is still on portable storage, so I am still listening to my CD's and tapes. One that has been 'stuck' in my tape player has a bunch of really good songs, that have my spirit all over it.

FRAPMTON COMES ALIVE

It seems like there was a time folks made light of the super huge success that Peter Frampton had. Was he a one-hit wonder? I know I never really cared, because that album was so super cool.

*sigh* Okay, I don't have all the memory I once had, but I have the emotions and the feelings that are anchored by events and 'things'. I can still 'feel' being over in the 48235, and Northland Mall was still a real shopping center and people carried 'ghetto blasters' on their shoulders.

I liked 'Do You Feel Like I Do', but like the entire free world, 'Show Me The Way', was THE song. Still is, isn't it?

Not going to question what it means to anyone, but like all works of art, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder, eh?

YES DARLA, I AM RUNNING OVER ...

... but that is okay. I am feeling like I look, and I look good, dontcha know!

Who can I believe in?
I'm kneeling on the floor
There has to be a force, who do I phone?

I can remember seeing Nebraska when I was at the bus station. When I was out on a run, and 'Show Me The Way' came up, that was the scene that popped into my head. Now I had already felt strong about Nebraska (the person), and while the idea of going there was in my 'top twenty', it wasn't a pressing thought. But after I had met her on line, it moved into my 'top ten'. "The stars are out and shining, but all I really want to know ..."

... and I think y'all should know the rest.

I have been 'practicing' being a friend, with AKA, the Fly Skimmie, and Tee Jay. I making sure I don't get sucked down with, in the way of, or put upon by anyone. I want to get and alter my character, because I am going to get yet another chance at reaching for the brass ring, and there are some things that I don't want to factor in against that happening.

I wonder if I'm dreaming
I feel so unashamed
I can't believe this is happening to me

And sometimes, I can't believe that it is. I am going to get the umpteenth chance to pull things together and get after 'it'. The goal isn't the road, but the road is the goal. One of the things I got out of the 'Desperation' story by Stephen King, my life is one that is going to be about the people I meet, the friendships I have, and being as 'there' for those I love as the fates allow me to be.

That sounds pretty darn good to me!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

One interesting thing about "Frampton Comes Alive" was that it was never meant to be a hit. It was a contractual obligation album. He had one more album left on his contract, and he figured he'd just record a concert, issue it, and be done with it.

Beth said...

And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack...and you may ask yourself, "My God! What have I done?" LOVE that song.

Thanks for talking up the Lady Cardinals. I don't follow women's hoops much, but how cool for them to get such a huge win!

Are Purdue and MI State the only two Big Ten teams left? I think so. We were cheering for State yesterday and thinking of you!

Hugs, Beth

Ken Riches said...

Glad two big ten teams made it to the 16, hope they both advance. State looks tough.

Lisa said...

Mark, I love Peter Frampton, I have decided that I will still blog on occasion, Hugs Lisa