The MRT is Awesome!

I recently returned from my bike trip to Winona, Minnesota. Once again it was a most enjoyable trip filled with headwinds in Illinois, rolling hills in Iowa, and great descents and climbs in and out of the Mississippi River Valley. Also making the trip great was the company. I went with three colleagues from PCHS and the verbal jabs, encouragement up the hills and laughter were frequent.

We all feel that the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) road in northeastern Iowa is a great example of cycling and motorized vehicle harmony. On each side of the road (a two lane highway) there are paved and clean cycling lanes about seven feet wide each side. It made for safe riding on the bikes and kept the traffic from coming close to our sides. The day earlier we were on a two mile stretch with little to no shoulder and we were constantly beaten by trucks and cars driving by at 55+ MPH. Not only does this toss a cyclist around but the cars and trucks are, in most cases, closer than 3 feet. This is not fun for either the drivers of the cars and trucks, but it is not fun or safe riding for the cyclist.

It seems that the Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood (from Illinois) supports road projects like the MRT. He says in a written statement that, "We are integrating the needs of bicyclists in federally funded road projects. We are discouraging transportation investments that negatively affect cyclists and pedestrians. And we are encouraging investments that go beyond the minimum requirements and provide facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities." I hope that this includes more new road and road repair projects that include biking lanes like those found on the MRT.

Here is the irony to this statement and my accolades of Iowa's MRT project. In the most recent issue of Bicycling (July 2010) there is a small piece I will quote here. "Iowa Congressman Tom Latham ridiculed transportation secretary Ray LaHood for his support of cycling, declaring that 'one biker is one less person paying into the transportation trust fund.'" Isn't that an amazingly disappointing statement coming from anyone, but especially from someone who represents a state that has the MRT and citizens happy to see us riding through their small towns spending money. And, as Bicycling editors note, "Hey, Latham: You know most cyclists drive right? We vote, too."

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.

The Beautiful Game or Just Winning?

I recently read the article, "The Beautiful Game: What Soccer Means to the World." I have enjoyed following the World Cup over the last three or four times it has been held, and I am most interested this year. Not so much because I am a die-hard soccer fan, I'm not. I have become interested because of the international and cultural values of the game. I started watching maybe 16 years ago because I was entranced at the national connectedness other nations have with their teams. I have enjoyed from World Cup to World Cup seeing national pride and "party" atmosphere in the stands. In the Sports Illustrated article they took three countries and highlighted them loosely by introducing the star of those teams. They showcased the Ivory Coast, Brazil, and the United States. I was particularly interested in the discussion of Brazil. In the days of Pele, Brazil's World Cup teams were described as playing "the Beautiful Game." An interviewee in the article states that Brazil used to play with style, but now they play ugly to win games. And that seems to be the contention among Brazilian fans. They want to play the beautiful game but win also which does not seem to be the way the game is played anymore. A Brazilian fan says, "Do you know this word utopia? The Beautiful Game is a fantasy. Spain plays it, but they won't win. Brazil and Italy: that's ugly soccer, and they'll reach the semifinals."

I believe that we have seen this in all aspects of sports, well, American sports that is. In baseball, it has become more about power pitches and hitting home runs. In basketball it is the fastbreaks and dunks. The NFL, a high powered passing game for score now and win. While I would agree with the argument that sports is not the most important thing in life, I would make the argument that sports reflect a certain aspect of our societies. We have moved away from living meaningful lives of "style" with grace and beliefs, and moved into lives of the now and "high powered" instant gratification.

I hope the teams that play next week and up to the championship on July 11, who play with grace and style, are rewarded with wins and recognition. I hope we see a return of the Beautiful Game.

Two Years

I was just looking through my archives (the massive volumes that it includes), and I realized that I have been blogging for just over two years. In two years, I have posted 39 supposedly interesting thoughts. My goal: 39 posts in the next 6 months (not including this one). So here we go true believers (apologies to Stan Lee).

The Birds are Here!!!

The birds are here. Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal came first and I have about 2 "couples" of finches and a couple Black Caped Chickadees who hang out at the feeder in front of our house. It has become quite a busy hub of activity. Kaleigh and I have to refill the feeder every third day or so. Also, hanging out in the tree are a couple Robins and several Morning Doves. It is fun to have some "friends" hanging out in front of the house.

Humble Thanks

Tonight I was treated to a delicious dinner and kind words at the Weaver Ridge Country club by the IEA Region 13 and 16 districts. I was nominated for the Silver Apple Award in our local the Pekin Education Alliance. It is quite an honor to receive the award for work that I simply feel called to do. It is nice to be recognized, but also I was humbled by the work others winning the award had done. I am small in comparison to the time and commitment others have put in to improving the education of young people. I work with some terrific people who are dedicated, knowledgeable, caring and persistent, and they all deserve the recognition I received tonight. Thanks

Still waiting

Still waiting on the birds. They are really missing out on some great grub!! Oh, the morning doves, or as I call them the slacker bums, have come around, but they don't count.