Topps Bunt Community - Paying It Forward

The first week of October when the Major League Baseball playoffs began an unusual thing happened on my Topps Bunt app.  See, my profile picture on the app is the Detroit Tigers "Old English D."  I am supporting my second favorite team, but my favorite in the playoffs.  Suddenly, I started getting unbalanced trades by 4 or 5 different people on the opening day of the Wildcard games.  When I say unbalanced, I mean unbalanced in my favor.  These people started sending me Tigers cards out of the blue with "Go Tigers!"  messages.  They weren't sending base cards; they were sending common and uncommon cards.  How fun!  It really made my day.  

I don't know.  I thought this was an amazing little trend, so I paid it forward and a sent whole bunch of my Tigers doubles to those who have the "Old English D" on their profile.  As the games continue through the playoffs, I plan to do this with fans of other teams.

Let's take this random act and pass it on in the other card apps.  Take a look at someone's profile and ship off unwanted dupes that match team or character of their profile.  This, by the way, isn't a trade you send to get something, just ask for a random base card.  Let that person know that you are celebrating their team or character.  

Running

I've never been much of a fan of running.  I realize this is a rich comment coming from someone who had a time in his life when he ran several triathlons, marathons, and half-marathons.  I am here to say it was less about the running and more about being able to say, "Done it."  I wasn't winning anything; I was just competing against my personal best time.  

But now I get to look at running from a new lens, and that lens is that of a father.  My youngest daughter signed up for cross country at her school this fall.  It is the first time she, or anyone in our family, has ever attempted this sport.  My older daughter did track last year, but I'm here to tell you, cross country is a different animal.  

Unfortunately for my daughter, she got her dad's ability, and cross country is more about finishing and trying to reach small wins.  Like her dad in his races, she isn't chasing a leader.  But, what is amazing to me, is this child doesn't really seem to care.  She is just loving being a part of these crazy kids who want to run 2 miles as fast as they can.  She loves the friends she is making, and quite frankly, she loves her pack.  And, I love that!  

As young parents, we have dreams of the great things our children will do.  We imagine Olympic medals or top CEO jobs, but it is amazing to watch all of the leading kids race by, and 5 or 6 minutes later comes my daughter, and that brings tears of joy to me.  I am so proud of her in her school uniform just working her ass off.  It is amazing.  I hope all dads get to experience this sometime in their daughters or son's lives.  It may not be in cross country or even athletics.  But to watch my daughter putting it all out there is just amazing.  

To find positivity in the galaxy, we don't have to look very far.  It kind of scares me as a dad that I will miss these moments.  Both of my kids and if you have children too, we know they do amazing things all the time.  Stop and watch.  I am so thankful for my daughter and thankful that she decided to give cross country a try.  Even though it is impossible to see it all,  I try to catch all the cool things my kids do, but I am glad my daughter caught my special attention when she started running.  

New Logo!!

A benefit to working at a high school is that I work with a lot of talented people.  In this case, I am referring to the students I work with.  One of our advanced art classes does a unit on graphic design for business, and I asked the teacher if one of the students could help me with a logo for my blog.  

After emailing back and forth with the student a few times for her to get a feel for what my blog discusses, she sent me the first draft.  I liked it!  She nailed the "feel" for my writing, but I wanted a bit more visual.  I replied what I loved and asked for something that includes the feel of "galaxy" and "searching."  That is what I got!  What do you think?  I love it!

The positive that I want to share here is there is so much promise in our youth.  I know they get a bad rap about being constantly connected to their devices, and they catch a lot of heat for laziness or an "I don't care" attitude.  Let's remember that our youth learn by watching adults, and maybe we all could have a bit of a new look at our behaviors as well.  But don't fret, our youth bring talent to the table as they grow and mature, just like the generations before them.  I see it every day in their creativity, discussion, athleticism, drive, and positivity.

So, thank you to Heidi, for her hard work, creativity, and excellent listening to what I was looking for.  Seeking Positivity in the Galaxy now has a logo!  

Celebrate like the Baddoos

"Don't give up. Your day will come!"  I don't know if Akil Baddoo ever heard that, but he certainly lived it.  Who is Akil Baddoo?  That's what I was asking when he came up to the plate for the Detroit Tigers (my second favorite MLB team).  All that is on the ESPN.com is that he is a 22-year-old centerfielder for the Detroit Tigers.  A little more digging discovered that he remarkably made the Tigers after spending several years in low A minor league ball for the Minnesota Twins.  The Tigers picked Baddoo up this last winter in the unprotected player draft.  After a great spring training with the Tigers, he made the major league team

What did he do?  In his first game in the major leagues when he came up to bat against the Cleveland Indians, he took the first pitch to the opposite field for a 370 foot home run. It was a great moment (check the video).  While one home run, even in your first at-bat, doesn't define a career, it certainly defines a positive moment of hope and achievement for hard work.  It defines a positive moment in the young baseball season where fans are back and the world is trying to figure out what a post-pandemic era will feel like.  It defines a positive moment for a family who was there to see it.  

What really caught my attention was his reaction and that of his parents who were in the stands that afternoon (again, check the video).  You could see the joy in Baddoo's face and actions as he rounded the bases, and he knew exactly where his parents were sitting.  He gave them recognition as he crossed home plate which I think is a total class act.  The cameras knew where his parents were too as if they knew something special would happen that day.  The cameras captured their instant reaction, and as a parent, it was beautiful to see.  Even though I wasn't there for all the little league games, high school baseball, years of summer ball, and what was likely a difficult decision to go pro, I could see the reward; we all could.  

We should mark Akil Baddoo's moment in time and remind ourselves of what can be achieved by the daily grind.  Our hard work will have celebratory moments.  It may not be in front of 10,000 fans and televised.  It may not be in front of all our friends or even our parents, but those moments do come.  Own those moments when you achieve them.  Take credit for your success and be proud of your accomplishments.

If you are a parent, look for the achievement, even small, in your own children and celebrate like the Baddoos did.  Be proud of your work as a parent and be proud of what your children are becoming.  I love baseball for reasons like this, but look around, I am sure there are moments like this to be found every day if we look for it.   

Akil Baddoo update 4/6/21

Baddoo's legendary start to his major league career grows.  In his second game for Detroit on Monday, he smashed a grand slam.  Then today, Tuesday, he was a pinch-runner in the eighth inning of a tied 3-3 game with Minnesota.  He stayed in the game defensively then in his first at-bat of the game in the 10th inning he hit a walk off single to win the game 4-3.  Keep an eye on this guy, he is fun to watch.  

Content Creation: We are all in this Together

When it comes to creating content, my heart is always up for it, but my mind is always cautious and questioning.  I look around at the areas in which I would be interested in creating content: Dungeons and Dragons, Star Wars reaction, comic book analysis, Marvel Cinematic Universe breakdown, baseball talk  and more.  I have a lot to say, but I question the value.  Why?  I look around at what is out there.  There are some really smart and creative people who are really successful and fun to read or watch or listen to.  What could I possibly have to add to the conversation?  

I was recently listening to the podcast, Dragon Talk, while shoveling the driveway.  Hosts Greg Tito @gregtito and Shelly Mazzanoble @shellymoo were interviewing Jordan Parker of @Lionhead_Gaming  The topic of content creation came up with the question, "What is the hardest thing you struggled with becoming a D&D content creator?"  Jordan, who is massively positive and has the greatest laugh in the world, said, "Being cognizant that other people's success is not your failure."  I stopped shoveling and stood there in the cold thinking about that statement, because I think that is what keeps me from creating content.  I am looking at the success of others and think, "I could never do that as good as they do."  Parker went on to say that we need to support and love the content creators around you.  It fuels the fire for everyone.  Keep the jealousy and envy at bay.  This thirty seconds of audio resonated so deeply with me. 

It is such a positive outlook on this traditional concept of competition.  I feel we live in a world where we are or we aren't, but Jordan's view is that together we are all stronger.  Together we fuel the fire that builds all of us up.  There is enough space for more Dungeon Masters and adventures.  There is enough space for reactions to Star Wars or comic books or movies or baseball.  If we communicate and reach out to one another, we will each build up something great.  Not separate in competition, but together in partnership.  

The most important part for me though, is his inital answer that other's people's success is not your failure.  I mean, who are we creating for anyway?  Personally, I am creating for myself, because I find enjoyment and fullfilment.  If making content makes us happy and we share it with a few, a lot, or a whole bunch of people and they enjoy it, all the better!  Success lies in our own hearts.  

If you have been holding back, take heart.  Remember who you are creating for...you!  If you share your creations and others love it, great!!  If they hate it, well, you didn't make it for them anyway.  You have something special in you, so make it and share it.  Connect with others who share your passion and together, build something great!  

 

Keeping it Positive

It saddens me to see several of my friends post that they are stepping away from social media because the toxicity has become too much.  First, good for them for being able to walk away, but these are good people who spread a message of positivity.  They participate in communities that are designed to be a fun escape and meant to expand ideas and the way we think.   I support them for knowing when enough is enough, but that still makes me sad that we are living in a social media world where a toxic, negative, and hate thrive and drive good out.  So, what can we do about that?  Here are a couple things that have helped me.  I am no counselor or doctor.  I am not an expert on social media behavior, so take this for what it is worth.  

I try to check myself first.  When I make a post, I ask myself these questions: Is this meant to encourage, build-up, continue a conversation or create positive change?   Social media is intended for the user to share with friends and family.  I don't know what everyone else learned, but when I was a kid, sharing always had a positive connotation.  I will share my cake.  I will share the blocks I am playing with.  I will share my friendship.  Sharing never meant doing bad.  So, I make the extra effort that when I share,  I do my best to ensure it is the good that I am sharing.  

Second, when someone does think that they need to share hate, negativity or toxic ideas, I don't accept it.  I don't have to read that post!  I don't have to reply to negativity!  That is not my obligation.  Quite frankly, I just ignore it....okay, it's not that easy, but I'm human so that is what I try to do.  It is true though; I am not obligated to participate in someone's negativity.  

If we are faced with toxicity, hate, intolerance we should block it.  There is a difference between toxicity and differing points of view.  We should resist blocking those who simply have views different that ours.  We need to know what others are thinking.  It helps us to balance our own beliefs, and we do need to be open-minded.  The negativity, hate, toxicity are attacks; we don't have to accept that.  There are sensible people out there who have civil ways of presenting the "other side" of the argument.  These are people who value the discourse.  Here is an example, I have a friend who loves the original Star Wars trilogy but absolutely thinks the rest of the main films are garbage.  We don't agree, but he doesn't spew hate and venom about it.  He has his reasons and that is great!  We have some really interesting conversations, usually with a beer in hand, and we walk away maybe a little closer to the middle in agreeing on things.  And that is totally cool.  Find those people in your fandom, in politics, and anywhere else you struggle with the toxic culture.  

I hope this brings some clarity.  

Finally, I would like to state I would never advocate hate, hurt, or intolerance of others.  Period.  However, I do want to suggest that it is possible to be friends with those who may not share our beliefs.  We are better than the close-minded idea that we can only associate ourselves with those who share our exact beliefs.  I can understand my friend's position, but that doesn't mean I have to agree with it.  I have lots of friends who don't share my political, religious, moral, pop culture, and sports values, but we work through it.  And that is okay.  We need to continue to build a positive culture online and in our own lives by building community, understanding, and civility.  

**  These ideas are my own opinion and no reflection of any other entity I am affiliated with.  

A Daily Reminder from "The Child"

 Some days it is just too much.  I'm sure we've all been there at some point this year.  Some days it is just too much toxicity in social media, on other days it is too much division in politics.  Some other days are just filled with too much responsibility or too much stress.  Whatever it is, we need Chewie to put up the front deflector shield to protect us from the onslaught.  The truth is Chewie is not sitting next to us, and we don't have the Millenium Falcon's deflector shields to protect our front.  When times become overwhelming, we seem to lose hope.  

This week a good friend of mine gifted a tiny figure of The Child to me.  As seen in the picture, it is a recreation from an episode in season one when the Mandalorian, IG-11, Cara Dune and Greef Karga are trapped in a cantina while being assaulted from the street by an Imperial garrison led by Moff Gideon.  Gideon sends an Incinerator Trooper with his flame-throwing weapon into the cantina to finish off the Mandalorian's team.  When the flames blast into the cantina, The Child steps up and uses the Force to deflect the flames back upon the trooper.  It is a climactic moment as The Child saves the team for the moment, and we all took a deep breath as they get a moment to regroup.  

I set this little figurine on my desk below my monitor because he is quite cute.  Besides being cute, he also reminds me that when the toxicity, stress, overwhelming responsibility come at me, I can handle it.  I can use the Force in me to decide to not participate in comments or become emotionally involved in controversial issues.  I can use the Force in me to decide that I'm not going to participate in social media until I feel better and more prepared to face it.  I can use the Force in me to take the stress of the day and find a positive way to break my tasks apart and tackle them one at a time.  I can use the Force in me to say "no" sometimes, and that's okay.  

There is so much in this life to bring us down.  Look for the positive in every situation, but when it becomes overwhelming, think about The Child and how he uses the peace of the Force to face the worst.   

The Perfect Response to the Almost Perfect Game

On June 2, Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers had 26 of 27 straight outs in a game; he was one out from a Perfect Game!  Then on a close play at first base, the umpire, Jim Joyce, called the runner safe thus ending the chase for a perfect game.

I always think that call is a difficult one, and as an armchair viewer of the game, I frequently call it wrong.  But in this situation, it was especially stressful for everyone: the umpire, the pitcher, the opposing team, the fans in the stands. This call ended a perfect game for the pitcher, but the ump got it wrong.  Replay showed that the runner was out by at least half a step. A disappointing ending for a run at a perfect game, but this is where the real story begins. 

Jim Joyce saw the replay in the clubhouse after the game, and immediately went to the Tigers locker room to tearfully apologized to Galarraga. He called for the media in the press room, and he apologized in public in front of the fans, his peers, and anyone who would listen. 

How many times do we make mistakes and hide behind excuses? How many other professionals in the spotlight like a major league umpire make huge miscues in their calls or plays and never apologize? As a 33 year professional and one of the best in baseball, he didn't have to do this, but he did. What a great example for all of us.  That is a great story, but it continues.

After the missed call was made, Armando Galarraga didn't argue.  He didn't go to the press room to call out the umpire.  He finished the game and celebrated a win for his team.   In an interview with Sports Illustrated Galarraga said of the apology, "He tried to talk. He'd say a couple words. 'You were perfect, I was not.' I felt so bad. I didn't feel bad for me. I felt bad for him." This pitcher missed a milestone that kids dream about in little league and the umpire "blew it," and Galarraga was humble about entire  situation. He took it in stride with the best sportsmanship on display. Tiger fans and fans of sports of all kinds should look to Galarraga as a model.  Galarraga saw the humanity in the game.  He saw humanity in a judgment call that could have defined his career.  With that, he did something bigger.  His reaction defined who he is as a person. 

I've been a Tiger fan for 26 years, and I will always remember Galarraga not for his almost perfect game, but for the sportsmanship he displayed and for the honorable actions of Jim Joyce.