Ok, so according to various sources the world is going to end tomorrow. I guess this means I should update my blog. I'll be ready with my helmet tomorrow. God has a sense of humor. :)
This has been a difficult and trying season up-to-date but I have long learned football is a metaphor for life and that shit happens. It's if you get back up that matters.
PRE-SEASON GAME
We began with a pre-season game against the Seattle Majestics. We came into this game with a lot of hopes to take our team to the next level this season. We had a new coaching staff, a lot of talented rookies, and a new offense. The outcome of this game made it evident to us that all those changes meant we would have to work out some kinks. We only lost 14-0 and it was a good experience to get the rookies some work before the actual season began but still no one likes to lose. On top of it our starting quarterback took an awkward hit and blew her ACL.
GAME 1: @ Bay Area
We re-grouped going into the official first game of the WFA season against the Bay Area Bandits. Our back up quarterback has all the tools necessary to run that spread offense we had developed. We had weapons. She is athletic, quick, strong, and poised. This was set up to be her break out game.
Then hell broke lose. The 2nd offensive play of the game she took a hit and her forearm broke into two and she got taken away in an ambulance. Our 3rd string quarterback already had a broken middle finger, our 4th string quarterback broke her thumb. Tracy took a hit and suffered a strained back and concussion and left on a stretcher. It was like a nightmare game. When you are down to quarterback 6 who has never taken a snap in her life it's difficult to move the ball. That being said we hung in there the best we could against a good team.
On a side note, when paramedics were attending to Tracy and we were huddled up close to our sideline trying to keep our heads on...a cop drove his car onto the field at full tilt...I thought he was going to do a power slide but he stopped at the 40 yard line, got out of the car, and sprinted to the ambulance...Apparently, they thought it was a shooting...
I don't think I have ever seen that in a football game ever.
Game 2: vs. Utah Blitz (Comcast week)
We had been notified that Comcast Sports Net Northwest had a new reality show called Adrenaline Hunter in which the winner of a previous show would go around doing kick-ass things in the Northwest. Her name is Bethy and some of the previous episodes were her hunting boar and cougars. They were interested in having Bethy participate on our team for a week and in a game and filming it for an episode.
I have to say I was pretty geeked about this. I am a complete sports nut. I'm always listening to sports radio, watching games, reading articles on espn.com. I knew this would be some great exposure for us but I wasn't quite sure what to expect when she came to practice.
When we got to practice that week there were cameras everywhere and it was POURING. They had big cameras, little cameras, big mics, small mics. Initially, it was a little difficult running through offensive plays and trying not to run over the camera guy but by the 2nd practice I felt used to them being around. That entire week it rained like Noah was going to build an Arc. It was cold but probably some extra drama for the production.
Due to our ridiculous amount of injuries at the quarterback position we gave her a shot at quarterback. For not having played football at all she did well. She had an arm, compusure, and natural athletic ability. When it came to the game itself she made a couple of rookie type mistakes but that is just due to lack of experience. She seemed to take well to football as well. I could tell she liked it.
During the game we moved the ball well but had trouble scoring which will happen with all the changes we made. Our defense had a great game and we shut them out. The final score was only 6-0 but we played better than that score.
Game 3: @ Spokane
The drive up to Spokane was some fun bonding time with Ashley and Erin. We listened to music, told stories, and figured out what we are all going to be for Halloween. I won't give it away here because it will truly be worth the wait.
We stopped at a rest stop about 30 minutes from Spokane and we were coming out of the bathroom when apparently CJ and Wilson had stopped at the same rest stop and Wilson decided to scare us half to death. The expression on Ashley's face was priceless.
We arrived at our hotel in Spokane which is a nice hotel but with a very confusing layout. The weather was perfect at that point. Sun and a nice breeze. Until the last time we came out of the locker room and it was pouring. The field was grass. We were in for a Mud Bowl.
This was Spokane's first home game ever in their team's history so it was pretty big for them. Our offense found itself in the 2nd half and we won 12-0. I left covered in mud but happy.
We later went down to the hotel bar where we apparently interupted the Housewives of Spokane County and their party but we ended up having a great time.
Game 4: vs. Bay Area
By the time this game had started we had suffered several season-ending injuries. That is not a good thing going into a game against a good team who has numbers. We lost again to them but learned a couple of things to change.
We got invited by them to kick it after the game and I had decided after people were either tired or going to the Blitz bar that I'd stop by and hang with them for a short bit before heading out. I ended up staying for an hour and I'm now forever known to them as "Portland".
Just so we are clear. I'm a fierce competitor. I will knock your ass down and then pick your ass up. I sometimes get a bit fiesty. One has to have that mentality when playing football to survive. But after the game we are all playing the same sport that we love. I have developed several good relationships with people from different teams and I think it actually makes it more fun. It's what I loved most about the All-American game. You walk into a room with people from all across the country and you have never met them and you already have a bond. It's awesome.
Game 5: vs. Spokane
Spokane definitely is improving. We had to make some adjustments to our defense but I think the 2nd half of this game was our best half all year. Our offense continuity was better and defensively we came together. In a season that has been full of constant change and uncertainty it was a great feeling. We walked of winners of a 22-12 score.
Now we have a 2 week bye which is exactly what we need. We need to heal. We sit at 3-2 and in the division lead. We play at Utah June 4th which will likely be for the division. We have to rest up to take it home during the last stretch of the season. We aren't done yet.
Looking back over the first half of the season I have learned some things. I have learned more than ever before that football is as much about mentality as it is about athletic talent. You can have athletic talent but if you don't have the mental strength to endure pain, mistakes, defeat, injuries, and things going wrong, then you are in the wrong sport. It's what makes football beautiful. It's the sport of getting knocked down and getting back up. It's what I love about it.
I have also learned that like life there are some things you just can't control. You can't control freak injuries and everything that happens on that field. All you can control is yourself and your reactions. You have to fight any fear and become a solution. You never give up. Never. Down the road never giving up will mean the difference between good and great.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Dear NFL
So after reading about the NFL rule changes I got a bit fired up and decided to blog about it.
I play football. It's a violent sport. I understand the need to protect your players. They are your investments. But there seems to be a bit hypocracy going on with the NFL. They say they want to protect the players and half the things they are doing say that while the other half don't.
If they really want to protect their players then why don't they instill better health and retirement plans? How many former players are broke due to health bills from hip and knee replacements?
And if they really wanted to protect the players then why don't they have guarenteed contracts? If any athlete deserves that it would be the football player who puts their body on the line every game and practice. Imagine signing a large contract, getting hurt, and not getting anything to fall back on?
And if they really wanted to protect their players...why don't they put a rookie salary cap in place? You shouldn't have unproven rookies getting paid ton's more than proven Pro-Bowlers. I'm sorry but you shouldn't. Put in a sliding scale type cap like the NBA. Guarentee that money but cap it. When that contract ends and the players have at least played a down then the teams can decide how much to pay them. This would reduce the "FLUFF" of paying 100 mill for a player's POTENTIAL and having them turn into a LaMarcus Russell. As long as you put in that guarentee that a player will get paid then I think it's completely fair to cap.
I understand wanting to try to enforce penalties and fines for bad hits. But the line needs to be more clear. As a defender it's hard to stop when you are going 110 percent and your momentum is carrying you. They have to find a way to DEFINE the difference between a HARD hit and a BAD hit. As a player most of the time you can tell if someone nailed you legally or is playing dirty.
That being said. DONT MESS WITH THE END PRODUCT ON THE FIELD. Moving the kick off from the 30 to 35 to the casual fan may not sound like much but think of how many kickoffs land between the goal line and the 5 yard line. They were deep but still reteurnable. Now with 5 more yards on the kicker's side you will certaintly put more in the endzone for touchbacks.
On the other side they used to allow greater takeoff for the kickoff team, 10-15 yards I think and the new limit is 5 yards. Having played football I can tell you unless you are a world class sprinter and even then, getting to your full speed at 5 yards is quite difficult.
What does this mean? It means that the kick off team will have less time to get down and cover. So 1 of 2 things will happen. Either the kick off team will just go for the touchback because the penality of putting it at the 20 is not really that much of a penalty...or you will see kick off teams trying to POOCH kickoffs and pin the return team deep like you sometimes see in punt situations. Pooching the kick higher for more air time will give the kick off team more time to get down and cover and if you mess up and kick too hard...oh well it's a touchback at the 20.
Do a lot of injuries happen on special teams? Yes. Is this really going to change that? No. Does it instead greatly handicap the kick return game? Yes. Will this probably lead to a reduced amount of points per game? Yes. Because you will have offenses working with longer fields.
What would I do to reduce injuries on kick offs? Put in stiffer penalties for blocks in the back and late hits on kick offs. Don't mess with the formations and where you start but make the penalities 20 yards and I think after an adjustment period you would see a difference. The game would change on it's own rather than you changing the game.
Now this CBA stuff is just ridiculus. I agreed with Obama. You guys make 9 Billion a year and can't figure it out? While the rest of the country is in a recession and I've personally been struggling all year?
I play football for the love of the game. We all have day jobs and play the same violent game you do. I'm not saying I would like to get hit by an NFL linebacker. But the violence IS relative. Me getting hit by some of these women is relative to an NFL running back getting hit by an NFL linebacker. IT STILL HURTS.
I've played with broken fingers, a fractured wrist, separated shoulder, not to mention little things that happen all season. I have basic health insurance and after losing my job it went to REAL basic health insurance.
If we were men I could wake up, train, play football, make millions. Because I'm a woman I can't. At least not yet. We are going towards that goal and I believe we will see something in the next couple years but it still won't be 100 mill.
So for me...It's hard to be that empahtic towards greedy owners and players. There IS a way to make the agreement fair to both sides but they DONT want to do it. It will greatly hurt the NFL if they don't get their shit together. Look at what happened to baseball after the '94 strike.
I play football. It's a violent sport. I understand the need to protect your players. They are your investments. But there seems to be a bit hypocracy going on with the NFL. They say they want to protect the players and half the things they are doing say that while the other half don't.
If they really want to protect their players then why don't they instill better health and retirement plans? How many former players are broke due to health bills from hip and knee replacements?
And if they really wanted to protect the players then why don't they have guarenteed contracts? If any athlete deserves that it would be the football player who puts their body on the line every game and practice. Imagine signing a large contract, getting hurt, and not getting anything to fall back on?
And if they really wanted to protect their players...why don't they put a rookie salary cap in place? You shouldn't have unproven rookies getting paid ton's more than proven Pro-Bowlers. I'm sorry but you shouldn't. Put in a sliding scale type cap like the NBA. Guarentee that money but cap it. When that contract ends and the players have at least played a down then the teams can decide how much to pay them. This would reduce the "FLUFF" of paying 100 mill for a player's POTENTIAL and having them turn into a LaMarcus Russell. As long as you put in that guarentee that a player will get paid then I think it's completely fair to cap.
I understand wanting to try to enforce penalties and fines for bad hits. But the line needs to be more clear. As a defender it's hard to stop when you are going 110 percent and your momentum is carrying you. They have to find a way to DEFINE the difference between a HARD hit and a BAD hit. As a player most of the time you can tell if someone nailed you legally or is playing dirty.
That being said. DONT MESS WITH THE END PRODUCT ON THE FIELD. Moving the kick off from the 30 to 35 to the casual fan may not sound like much but think of how many kickoffs land between the goal line and the 5 yard line. They were deep but still reteurnable. Now with 5 more yards on the kicker's side you will certaintly put more in the endzone for touchbacks.
On the other side they used to allow greater takeoff for the kickoff team, 10-15 yards I think and the new limit is 5 yards. Having played football I can tell you unless you are a world class sprinter and even then, getting to your full speed at 5 yards is quite difficult.
What does this mean? It means that the kick off team will have less time to get down and cover. So 1 of 2 things will happen. Either the kick off team will just go for the touchback because the penality of putting it at the 20 is not really that much of a penalty...or you will see kick off teams trying to POOCH kickoffs and pin the return team deep like you sometimes see in punt situations. Pooching the kick higher for more air time will give the kick off team more time to get down and cover and if you mess up and kick too hard...oh well it's a touchback at the 20.
Do a lot of injuries happen on special teams? Yes. Is this really going to change that? No. Does it instead greatly handicap the kick return game? Yes. Will this probably lead to a reduced amount of points per game? Yes. Because you will have offenses working with longer fields.
What would I do to reduce injuries on kick offs? Put in stiffer penalties for blocks in the back and late hits on kick offs. Don't mess with the formations and where you start but make the penalities 20 yards and I think after an adjustment period you would see a difference. The game would change on it's own rather than you changing the game.
Now this CBA stuff is just ridiculus. I agreed with Obama. You guys make 9 Billion a year and can't figure it out? While the rest of the country is in a recession and I've personally been struggling all year?
I play football for the love of the game. We all have day jobs and play the same violent game you do. I'm not saying I would like to get hit by an NFL linebacker. But the violence IS relative. Me getting hit by some of these women is relative to an NFL running back getting hit by an NFL linebacker. IT STILL HURTS.
I've played with broken fingers, a fractured wrist, separated shoulder, not to mention little things that happen all season. I have basic health insurance and after losing my job it went to REAL basic health insurance.
If we were men I could wake up, train, play football, make millions. Because I'm a woman I can't. At least not yet. We are going towards that goal and I believe we will see something in the next couple years but it still won't be 100 mill.
So for me...It's hard to be that empahtic towards greedy owners and players. There IS a way to make the agreement fair to both sides but they DONT want to do it. It will greatly hurt the NFL if they don't get their shit together. Look at what happened to baseball after the '94 strike.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Progress
So a lot has transpired since the last post. We have decided to go in a new direction with a new coaching staff. I will spare you the details except that I think it's probably been good for everyone involved.
Our head coach was involved with the original Seattle Warbirds, our offensive coordinator played wide receiver at Washington State before a short stint with the Seattle Seahawks and some time in the Canadian Football League. Our line coach played O-line in high school and has high energy. I love the chemistry between the new staff and the direction we are now going.
We have picked up a pre-season game against the Seattle Majestics of the IWFL on April 2nd. This will be a great opportunity for the rookies to get their feet wet and for us to work out any remaining kinks before the season starts. It's also an opportunity for a good regional match up between Seattle and Portland. One has to only look over to history of the old Super Sonics vs. the Blazers, Sounders vs. Timbers, and Huskies versus Ducks to know there is a natural rivalry between the states and cities.
Our first game only being a couple weeks away I am starting to get very excited. There is nothing like running onto that field with all your gear on and your heart beating out of your chest.
For the past 3 seasons I have wrapped my left wrist a couple of times with tape and written my saying of the season on it with sharpie. My wrist is fine but I think of this like a battle cry and it's become a little bit of a superstition.
This started when a former teammate's spouse's daughter was losing a battle of cancer and we all wrote her name on us that season in her honor. This is the same time that my family's house burnt down and 3 months later my mother was in a dune buggy accident that left her with basically her entire back in 3rd degree burns. I therefore also wrote "MOM".
Last year my saying was "faster, stronger, smarter". This year I'm still working on it but it may end up being something like "PHX Rising" or "No Walls". I'm going to have to play with it the next couple of weeks. If you have any suggestions hit me up. When I have someone or something to play for it makes me play harder.
Football may be "just a game" but you can do so much more with it if you look beyond it.
Count Down: 17 days until take off.
Our head coach was involved with the original Seattle Warbirds, our offensive coordinator played wide receiver at Washington State before a short stint with the Seattle Seahawks and some time in the Canadian Football League. Our line coach played O-line in high school and has high energy. I love the chemistry between the new staff and the direction we are now going.
We have picked up a pre-season game against the Seattle Majestics of the IWFL on April 2nd. This will be a great opportunity for the rookies to get their feet wet and for us to work out any remaining kinks before the season starts. It's also an opportunity for a good regional match up between Seattle and Portland. One has to only look over to history of the old Super Sonics vs. the Blazers, Sounders vs. Timbers, and Huskies versus Ducks to know there is a natural rivalry between the states and cities.
Our first game only being a couple weeks away I am starting to get very excited. There is nothing like running onto that field with all your gear on and your heart beating out of your chest.
For the past 3 seasons I have wrapped my left wrist a couple of times with tape and written my saying of the season on it with sharpie. My wrist is fine but I think of this like a battle cry and it's become a little bit of a superstition.
This started when a former teammate's spouse's daughter was losing a battle of cancer and we all wrote her name on us that season in her honor. This is the same time that my family's house burnt down and 3 months later my mother was in a dune buggy accident that left her with basically her entire back in 3rd degree burns. I therefore also wrote "MOM".
Last year my saying was "faster, stronger, smarter". This year I'm still working on it but it may end up being something like "PHX Rising" or "No Walls". I'm going to have to play with it the next couple of weeks. If you have any suggestions hit me up. When I have someone or something to play for it makes me play harder.
Football may be "just a game" but you can do so much more with it if you look beyond it.
Count Down: 17 days until take off.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Perspective of a Duck
As Auburn lined up last night to kick which was basically an 11 yard field goal, I sat there with my friends at the bar, praying for a bad snap, or a block, or a Boise State shank. But somehow when the camera shifted to behind the goal post and I saw it was basically an extra point...I knew it was over.
It's hard to believe that this season is over. This season in which Oregon went from a troubled off season and huge questions at key positions, to Pac 10 Champs and going for the National Title. What a ride this has been.
Supwitchugrl made their what seems to be now, annual Youtube music video, complete with scenes with cheerleaders, in Autzen, dancing mascot, and mini tractor. After that I swear there have been so many Duck songs this year that I will probably try to compile a Duck CD. The Ellen show came to campus. Sebastion Bach made a power ballad. Jimmy Kimmel put on Duck gear. Lebron James was at a home game.
LaMichael James rushed for over 1700 yards for the Oregon single season rushing record and he didn't even play in the first game. Darron Thomas emerged quietly as THE quarterback. Only a redshirt sophomore he rarely looked like a sophomore. Cliff Harris oozes confidence and play-making ability even when he scares you and drops a kick off. Josh Huff came on late and looks like the WR of the future in the wake of Jeff Maehl graduating. Jeff Maehl will make a name for himself on Sundays. He's not the sexy name but he will come in and get the job done. Kenjon Barner was probably the best backup running back in the conference and would start if not for LaMichael.
There was the 72 yard TD run by LaMichael at Tennessee where he made people miss like a video game, tip toed the sideline, and dove into the endzone to change the momentum of the game.
There was the onside kick when Oregon was down 21-3 to Stanford in the 2nd quarter and had just scored to make it 21-10. Kicker Beard caught his own kick to get the ball back and Oregon scored again to make it 21-17 and never looked back.
There was the fake punt in the Civil War to seal the game.
All that lead to this National Title game. Yes, Auburn is bigger and from the SEC. Yes, Auburn won. But they didn't blow Oregon out of the stadium like many people were claiming they would. They weren't dominate. They barely moved the ball at times. They turned the ball over too.
It was evident to me that these were two different styles of teams and the talent was pretty even although in different areas. In football, when the talent is even, it comes down to breaks in the game. Auburn got most of them. Oregon didn't. Auburn won because it had the ball last. Not because they were that much superior.
Although as a Duck fan it was a bitter bitter pill to swallow. It was hard to watch a run by Dyer when he looked like he was down, and he kept going to pick up the yardage for field goal range. You'd rather Cam just flat out beat you than have it be a controversial call in which if Oregon had known Dyer wasn't down would probably would have not stopped and would have made a tackle before he got down the field.
There was the interception by Cliff Harris in the 2nd quarter that looked solid until they overturned it and gave Auburn the ball back. Auburn touchdown the next play. Sometimes in football shit happens.
But after the sting subsided the only think I could think of was how bad I felt for these players. How special a group this was. How hard they worked. They played the "right" way. They won each day. Took it a day at a time. They forced a team curfew of 10pm on themselves before the bowl game. They were down during the season at points and always came back like one of those wind up cars you pull back and let loose. They played for Chip Kelly and they played for each other.
They at times played so fast that I couldn't even believe it. I felt I couldn't leave my seat or I would miss something. The defense had the most play makers I have ever seen at Oregon. They created turnovers. The return game was the best we have ever had. The kicking game at the least fairly solid.
I have grown up a Duck fan since I was about 8. I attended the University and screamed in the student section while avoiding the occasional puffs of weed smoke and drunken people falling off the benches. I have rushed the field several times including the controversial win over Oklahoma. I have been around before the renovation of Autzen. I was at games when the stadium was a bit rough, the facilities crude, and the parking lot full of pot holes so when it rained there were huge puddles.
I will tell you I have never been more proud to be a Duck. I feel like these kids are my brothers. I believe in this program. I believe in them more so for who they are and how they conduct themselves than how they have become the most winning team in Duck history. That is my perspective as a Duck.
It's hard to believe that this season is over. This season in which Oregon went from a troubled off season and huge questions at key positions, to Pac 10 Champs and going for the National Title. What a ride this has been.
Supwitchugrl made their what seems to be now, annual Youtube music video, complete with scenes with cheerleaders, in Autzen, dancing mascot, and mini tractor. After that I swear there have been so many Duck songs this year that I will probably try to compile a Duck CD. The Ellen show came to campus. Sebastion Bach made a power ballad. Jimmy Kimmel put on Duck gear. Lebron James was at a home game.
LaMichael James rushed for over 1700 yards for the Oregon single season rushing record and he didn't even play in the first game. Darron Thomas emerged quietly as THE quarterback. Only a redshirt sophomore he rarely looked like a sophomore. Cliff Harris oozes confidence and play-making ability even when he scares you and drops a kick off. Josh Huff came on late and looks like the WR of the future in the wake of Jeff Maehl graduating. Jeff Maehl will make a name for himself on Sundays. He's not the sexy name but he will come in and get the job done. Kenjon Barner was probably the best backup running back in the conference and would start if not for LaMichael.
There was the 72 yard TD run by LaMichael at Tennessee where he made people miss like a video game, tip toed the sideline, and dove into the endzone to change the momentum of the game.
There was the onside kick when Oregon was down 21-3 to Stanford in the 2nd quarter and had just scored to make it 21-10. Kicker Beard caught his own kick to get the ball back and Oregon scored again to make it 21-17 and never looked back.
There was the fake punt in the Civil War to seal the game.
All that lead to this National Title game. Yes, Auburn is bigger and from the SEC. Yes, Auburn won. But they didn't blow Oregon out of the stadium like many people were claiming they would. They weren't dominate. They barely moved the ball at times. They turned the ball over too.
It was evident to me that these were two different styles of teams and the talent was pretty even although in different areas. In football, when the talent is even, it comes down to breaks in the game. Auburn got most of them. Oregon didn't. Auburn won because it had the ball last. Not because they were that much superior.
Although as a Duck fan it was a bitter bitter pill to swallow. It was hard to watch a run by Dyer when he looked like he was down, and he kept going to pick up the yardage for field goal range. You'd rather Cam just flat out beat you than have it be a controversial call in which if Oregon had known Dyer wasn't down would probably would have not stopped and would have made a tackle before he got down the field.
There was the interception by Cliff Harris in the 2nd quarter that looked solid until they overturned it and gave Auburn the ball back. Auburn touchdown the next play. Sometimes in football shit happens.
But after the sting subsided the only think I could think of was how bad I felt for these players. How special a group this was. How hard they worked. They played the "right" way. They won each day. Took it a day at a time. They forced a team curfew of 10pm on themselves before the bowl game. They were down during the season at points and always came back like one of those wind up cars you pull back and let loose. They played for Chip Kelly and they played for each other.
They at times played so fast that I couldn't even believe it. I felt I couldn't leave my seat or I would miss something. The defense had the most play makers I have ever seen at Oregon. They created turnovers. The return game was the best we have ever had. The kicking game at the least fairly solid.
I have grown up a Duck fan since I was about 8. I attended the University and screamed in the student section while avoiding the occasional puffs of weed smoke and drunken people falling off the benches. I have rushed the field several times including the controversial win over Oklahoma. I have been around before the renovation of Autzen. I was at games when the stadium was a bit rough, the facilities crude, and the parking lot full of pot holes so when it rained there were huge puddles.
I will tell you I have never been more proud to be a Duck. I feel like these kids are my brothers. I believe in this program. I believe in them more so for who they are and how they conduct themselves than how they have become the most winning team in Duck history. That is my perspective as a Duck.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The Fighter
Hello everyone:
Just to update you. I've been working part time at Kohl's doing ad set work. No, it's not my dream job but it's something until I can find that next good job. I will tell you straight up this economy sucks. It was definitely a bit of a hit in the stomach to not only lose my job a few months ago but to do it in this economy.
I'm finding I'm kind of in this weird middle ground. I'm having employers feel I'm overqualified for entry level jobs. But if you think about it from their standpoint...they have their choice of whoever they really want because the competition is so fierce. So when they don't think I'm going to stay around for an entry level office position they aren't going to hire me when they can find someone that will. Then on the other end the jobs I can work into have their pick from the pool as well and don't want to waste their time training when they have 5-10 applicants that have already done the job in specific systems.
In this middle ground I'm hoping I can find a small business that I can grow into. I'm feeling like that is my best bet. I had an interview yesterday with a graphics company in Beaverton that is in need for an HR person and the duties are pretty much the same thing I did before. So I took the bull by the horns and turned in my resume in person, thinking because it's a local business, I might have a better shot if they meet me. They had me fill out an app and come in for an interview the next day. I think I nailed it. But the guy told me he has had over 100 applicants for this job. I'm hoping my aggressiveness in coming will help me. Please dear God lol I just need my foot in someone's door.
So btw readers today is my 27th birthday. I woke up this morning with my facebook blowing up. It sounds kinda silly but it really did make me feel good. I appreciated it more than people probably realize.
I just saw the movie the Fighter and loved it. I love the grit of it. I love marky mark and Christian Bale again just acts the hell out of his roles.
I saw a bit of me in that movie. No, I'm not from the projects and I don't have a crack addicted brother. But I do have my own battles and my own traumatic experiences that have shaped me.
People ask me sometimes if it hurts getting tackled and some people don't understand why I like getting hit. It's not really that I like getting hit. I like hitting you before you hit me. I like you trying to stop me and me running you over or making you miss. That feeling is a metaphorical feeling for overcoming obstacles in life. It's why I play better with a chip on my shoulder. I take all that anger and pain and funnel it.
I become a different person. Plus I have no fear of being physically hurt really. Ive had so many injuries and things happen that I know short of a freak accident that I can come back and heal from most anything. I'm not invincible but I don't fear pain.
I see football as a battle. It's a war game. It's not ever going to be alright to actually call it war because I'm not in Iraq. But it's game based off the attribution of land and resources. The strategy of it is a war game. Football is a hell of a lot more mental than people realize. It's physical chess. Coach 1 moves a piece here at a weakness. Coach 2 sends a rook here to block. Coach 1 tries to outflank team 2. Coach 2 sends in reserves.
So because of this my teammates are very important to me. They fight for me. I fight for them. We fight together for one goal. Move the ball. Stop the ball. Get the ball. It doesn't work if we are 11 individuals. In football, you can't get away with a Kobe Bryant and role players. If I don't pass protect the quarterback gets sacked. If no one blocks I don't care who you have with the ball you won't move it. If no one blocks it's 11 defenders against 1 person with the ball and even if you are Reggie Bush that is horrible odds.
On defense it's the same idea. You are mostly in certain assignments, zones, and reads. If everyone does their job you stop the ball. The second you don't trust your teammate and try to freelance is the second you open a lane and they cutback for a touchdown.
Because of this and the natural bond you have because you are all getting the crap beat out of you physically and you like it...your teammate is your family.
So when I am getting tackled a lot, and I get knocked down and keep coming back for more, it's not really about me. It's about my team. I'm fighting for them and they are fighting for me. We fight together. That is when you really start winning.
I have played sports my whole life. Everything you can think of. I was pretty decent and most of them. None of them have come close to giving me this feeling I get when I play football. I fly around and I'm free. I'm rewarded for courage. The connection I get from my team is different than any other sport.
As much as I get annoyed by the Brett Farve saga I can understand why he wants to always come back. It's addicting.
So you can knock me down, get me against the ropes, but football has taught me I can fight back and I will hit you in the mouth.
Just to update you. I've been working part time at Kohl's doing ad set work. No, it's not my dream job but it's something until I can find that next good job. I will tell you straight up this economy sucks. It was definitely a bit of a hit in the stomach to not only lose my job a few months ago but to do it in this economy.
I'm finding I'm kind of in this weird middle ground. I'm having employers feel I'm overqualified for entry level jobs. But if you think about it from their standpoint...they have their choice of whoever they really want because the competition is so fierce. So when they don't think I'm going to stay around for an entry level office position they aren't going to hire me when they can find someone that will. Then on the other end the jobs I can work into have their pick from the pool as well and don't want to waste their time training when they have 5-10 applicants that have already done the job in specific systems.
In this middle ground I'm hoping I can find a small business that I can grow into. I'm feeling like that is my best bet. I had an interview yesterday with a graphics company in Beaverton that is in need for an HR person and the duties are pretty much the same thing I did before. So I took the bull by the horns and turned in my resume in person, thinking because it's a local business, I might have a better shot if they meet me. They had me fill out an app and come in for an interview the next day. I think I nailed it. But the guy told me he has had over 100 applicants for this job. I'm hoping my aggressiveness in coming will help me. Please dear God lol I just need my foot in someone's door.
So btw readers today is my 27th birthday. I woke up this morning with my facebook blowing up. It sounds kinda silly but it really did make me feel good. I appreciated it more than people probably realize.
I just saw the movie the Fighter and loved it. I love the grit of it. I love marky mark and Christian Bale again just acts the hell out of his roles.
I saw a bit of me in that movie. No, I'm not from the projects and I don't have a crack addicted brother. But I do have my own battles and my own traumatic experiences that have shaped me.
People ask me sometimes if it hurts getting tackled and some people don't understand why I like getting hit. It's not really that I like getting hit. I like hitting you before you hit me. I like you trying to stop me and me running you over or making you miss. That feeling is a metaphorical feeling for overcoming obstacles in life. It's why I play better with a chip on my shoulder. I take all that anger and pain and funnel it.
I become a different person. Plus I have no fear of being physically hurt really. Ive had so many injuries and things happen that I know short of a freak accident that I can come back and heal from most anything. I'm not invincible but I don't fear pain.
I see football as a battle. It's a war game. It's not ever going to be alright to actually call it war because I'm not in Iraq. But it's game based off the attribution of land and resources. The strategy of it is a war game. Football is a hell of a lot more mental than people realize. It's physical chess. Coach 1 moves a piece here at a weakness. Coach 2 sends a rook here to block. Coach 1 tries to outflank team 2. Coach 2 sends in reserves.
So because of this my teammates are very important to me. They fight for me. I fight for them. We fight together for one goal. Move the ball. Stop the ball. Get the ball. It doesn't work if we are 11 individuals. In football, you can't get away with a Kobe Bryant and role players. If I don't pass protect the quarterback gets sacked. If no one blocks I don't care who you have with the ball you won't move it. If no one blocks it's 11 defenders against 1 person with the ball and even if you are Reggie Bush that is horrible odds.
On defense it's the same idea. You are mostly in certain assignments, zones, and reads. If everyone does their job you stop the ball. The second you don't trust your teammate and try to freelance is the second you open a lane and they cutback for a touchdown.
Because of this and the natural bond you have because you are all getting the crap beat out of you physically and you like it...your teammate is your family.
So when I am getting tackled a lot, and I get knocked down and keep coming back for more, it's not really about me. It's about my team. I'm fighting for them and they are fighting for me. We fight together. That is when you really start winning.
I have played sports my whole life. Everything you can think of. I was pretty decent and most of them. None of them have come close to giving me this feeling I get when I play football. I fly around and I'm free. I'm rewarded for courage. The connection I get from my team is different than any other sport.
As much as I get annoyed by the Brett Farve saga I can understand why he wants to always come back. It's addicting.
So you can knock me down, get me against the ropes, but football has taught me I can fight back and I will hit you in the mouth.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Off-Season Update
Ok readers I think I'm going through withdraws. I have a weird twitch whenever anyone mentions football and I start drooling at the mouth. Ok, not really but pretty damn close. At least I have had college football and the NFL to watch on the weekends.
The thing that is interesting about my team is that because we don't have one owner and we all act as owners on the team, then we are essentially running a business. This requires a lot of work. This means that just because it's the 'off-season' as far as playing that doesn't mean that the business side stops. It can't stop.
We raised close to $35,000 last year and pulled almost even when most teams in their first year lose money. I'm pretty proud of that because we really did most of it on the fly. This speaks volumes about the dedication and hard work that we all put in.
I almost think that the fact we are player owned means we actually have to literally buy into the team more. It brings us closer together because we have to make it work in order to be able to play. That doesn't mean it's always roses or easy. But it is well worth it.
Personally, I've been continuing on my job search. I got laid off a few months ago and moved up here to Vancouver with a couple of teammates. I am much happier in the Portland area. I love Portland. I love cities. I love being where things are happening. I love that Portland is a small-big city and that it's edgy and artsy. It's the green movement capital pretty much and is the first major American city with an openly gay mayor. He hasn't been the best at his position ever but the fact that we elected a mayor who happened to be gay was pretty cool. Portland is the city of bicycles, roses, awesome public transit, beautiful scenery, the best Saturday outdoor market, several national companies, the largest bookstore in the world, ten million coffee houses and microbreweries. We have great beer ok?! Portland is the cool edgy city celebrities sick of the stuffyness of LA move to. If you want a tour I can do that too! I have been to 14 countries all around the world only to discover my home was really in my backyard the whole time.
This unemployment thing has been challenging for me. I went from HR director managing almost 100 people, driving 600 miles a week, working 75-80 hours a week (if you include work, driving, and football), to...what the hell do I do now? I'm finding I'm over qualified for things and under qualified for others. I'm stuck in that middle section. I'm getting some part time work coming up but if anyone knows of anything let me know! :D
I have essentially put my off time into training, job hunting, and helping with the business side of football. I have been on a football training program for the past month and enjoy it. One of the most challenging things about football is that you get in great shape during the season and then after you want time to heal so you relax a bit and that later leads to relaxing a lot and then when it's time to start football again you have to get back into shape. This year I'm maintaining and improving so that when the season starts I hit the ground running this year. I always want to get better.
I tend to get bored with cardio equipment because it's the same thing all the time so I decided I would do some stair work this off season. I looked up stairs in Portland and found my Mt. Everest in the west hills of Portland. It's pretty much right out of downtown. Those hills are crazy steep to the point its scary to drive. The stair case cuts through one of the hills so you can shortcut up the stairs to the higher point up the windy street. There are about 9-10 different sections of the staircase and 200 steps in total. They are old and steep and I have nicknamed it my "Great Wall of Portland". I run this staircase 2 times a week. I can only go up and down twice before I get extreme muscle fatigue. You know the kind where in your mind you are sprinting but your legs are going in slow motion.
I see other people on the staircase but most of them are walking them. I think I'm the only crazy person sprinting them. It is challenging and is in higher elevation so it's harder to breathe. I love it though because it's kind of like my secret place.
We have held a couple of tryouts and have one more coming up in December. I am very excited about our rookies coming on board. They are all talented and athletic and have great attitudes. They all are competitive and want to win. They are enthusiastic and bring great ideas to the business side too. I really think this year we are going to take off. It's also cute getting to teach them how to stand and what all the equipment is for. My favorite is the "where the hell does this pad go?" question that always happens every year.
In other news my SF Giants just won the world series. I never thought I'd actually see that happen. I was at a football meeting getting updates on my phone and had to restrain myself from jumping up on the table to celebrate.
And my Ducks are the number one team in the country. It's really quite unbelievable. I mean you dream of your team being number one in the country and getting that much attention but I never thought it would actually happen. To be honest people we used to be the Boise State. We never got the respect we do now. We got close in 2007 but that was because everyone else lost in front of us before Dixon went down. It was the perfect storm. This team in 2010 is better than that team.
The efficiency of the offense is insane. You watch it in person and you can barely catch your breathe and you aren't the defense. I've noticed that sometimes like USC the defenses can play well early but they just get worn down. The 2-3 yard gains in the 1st quarter become 42 yard tds in the 3rd. It's not even a hurry up offense. It's like a turbo jet. The usc game there was a run for a loss and the usc band was playing their fight song because there normally is a break in between plays but oregon was so quick they got up and threw a 15 yard pass for the first down as the usc band was still playing the fight song.
And the defense is underrated. It's the best in the conference. Because Oregon scores most of their tds in under 3 minute drives, that means the oregon d is on the field much of the game. That means the opposing offense is on the field most of the game. That means that they are probably going to get yards. Oregon's D isn't dominating as far as strength. They aren't going to overwhelm you and stiffle you like the old nebraska teams. That's not the type of D they are. They have speed and playmakers. The O can get to the 20 and then get picked off. Or sacked. Or stuffed. The D creates turnovers and scores points. They are deceptively the best D I have seen at Oregon ever.
If Oregon goes to the title game in Zona. I didn't care how. I am going. And if the Ducks and Giants win in the same year I will go back to vegas and put down some money cuz I never thought that would ever happen.
Blackjack anyone?
The thing that is interesting about my team is that because we don't have one owner and we all act as owners on the team, then we are essentially running a business. This requires a lot of work. This means that just because it's the 'off-season' as far as playing that doesn't mean that the business side stops. It can't stop.
We raised close to $35,000 last year and pulled almost even when most teams in their first year lose money. I'm pretty proud of that because we really did most of it on the fly. This speaks volumes about the dedication and hard work that we all put in.
I almost think that the fact we are player owned means we actually have to literally buy into the team more. It brings us closer together because we have to make it work in order to be able to play. That doesn't mean it's always roses or easy. But it is well worth it.
Personally, I've been continuing on my job search. I got laid off a few months ago and moved up here to Vancouver with a couple of teammates. I am much happier in the Portland area. I love Portland. I love cities. I love being where things are happening. I love that Portland is a small-big city and that it's edgy and artsy. It's the green movement capital pretty much and is the first major American city with an openly gay mayor. He hasn't been the best at his position ever but the fact that we elected a mayor who happened to be gay was pretty cool. Portland is the city of bicycles, roses, awesome public transit, beautiful scenery, the best Saturday outdoor market, several national companies, the largest bookstore in the world, ten million coffee houses and microbreweries. We have great beer ok?! Portland is the cool edgy city celebrities sick of the stuffyness of LA move to. If you want a tour I can do that too! I have been to 14 countries all around the world only to discover my home was really in my backyard the whole time.
This unemployment thing has been challenging for me. I went from HR director managing almost 100 people, driving 600 miles a week, working 75-80 hours a week (if you include work, driving, and football), to...what the hell do I do now? I'm finding I'm over qualified for things and under qualified for others. I'm stuck in that middle section. I'm getting some part time work coming up but if anyone knows of anything let me know! :D
I have essentially put my off time into training, job hunting, and helping with the business side of football. I have been on a football training program for the past month and enjoy it. One of the most challenging things about football is that you get in great shape during the season and then after you want time to heal so you relax a bit and that later leads to relaxing a lot and then when it's time to start football again you have to get back into shape. This year I'm maintaining and improving so that when the season starts I hit the ground running this year. I always want to get better.
I tend to get bored with cardio equipment because it's the same thing all the time so I decided I would do some stair work this off season. I looked up stairs in Portland and found my Mt. Everest in the west hills of Portland. It's pretty much right out of downtown. Those hills are crazy steep to the point its scary to drive. The stair case cuts through one of the hills so you can shortcut up the stairs to the higher point up the windy street. There are about 9-10 different sections of the staircase and 200 steps in total. They are old and steep and I have nicknamed it my "Great Wall of Portland". I run this staircase 2 times a week. I can only go up and down twice before I get extreme muscle fatigue. You know the kind where in your mind you are sprinting but your legs are going in slow motion.
I see other people on the staircase but most of them are walking them. I think I'm the only crazy person sprinting them. It is challenging and is in higher elevation so it's harder to breathe. I love it though because it's kind of like my secret place.
We have held a couple of tryouts and have one more coming up in December. I am very excited about our rookies coming on board. They are all talented and athletic and have great attitudes. They all are competitive and want to win. They are enthusiastic and bring great ideas to the business side too. I really think this year we are going to take off. It's also cute getting to teach them how to stand and what all the equipment is for. My favorite is the "where the hell does this pad go?" question that always happens every year.
In other news my SF Giants just won the world series. I never thought I'd actually see that happen. I was at a football meeting getting updates on my phone and had to restrain myself from jumping up on the table to celebrate.
And my Ducks are the number one team in the country. It's really quite unbelievable. I mean you dream of your team being number one in the country and getting that much attention but I never thought it would actually happen. To be honest people we used to be the Boise State. We never got the respect we do now. We got close in 2007 but that was because everyone else lost in front of us before Dixon went down. It was the perfect storm. This team in 2010 is better than that team.
The efficiency of the offense is insane. You watch it in person and you can barely catch your breathe and you aren't the defense. I've noticed that sometimes like USC the defenses can play well early but they just get worn down. The 2-3 yard gains in the 1st quarter become 42 yard tds in the 3rd. It's not even a hurry up offense. It's like a turbo jet. The usc game there was a run for a loss and the usc band was playing their fight song because there normally is a break in between plays but oregon was so quick they got up and threw a 15 yard pass for the first down as the usc band was still playing the fight song.
And the defense is underrated. It's the best in the conference. Because Oregon scores most of their tds in under 3 minute drives, that means the oregon d is on the field much of the game. That means the opposing offense is on the field most of the game. That means that they are probably going to get yards. Oregon's D isn't dominating as far as strength. They aren't going to overwhelm you and stiffle you like the old nebraska teams. That's not the type of D they are. They have speed and playmakers. The O can get to the 20 and then get picked off. Or sacked. Or stuffed. The D creates turnovers and scores points. They are deceptively the best D I have seen at Oregon ever.
If Oregon goes to the title game in Zona. I didn't care how. I am going. And if the Ducks and Giants win in the same year I will go back to vegas and put down some money cuz I never thought that would ever happen.
Blackjack anyone?
Monday, August 2, 2010
All-American Game
Ok yes readers I haven't posted a blog in a while but to my credit I am going to be filling in at a later date. Our season ended with us winning the division title and losing in the first round to the Showgirls...just to catch you up.
I was honored that I got selected to be on the All-American team for my conference. In addition to that Lisa, Teters, and Tucker got selected to the first team. T-Dawg and Rainbow got selected to the 2nd team. I was so proud of us to have so many selections as a first year team.
So what happened in Vegas? It stays there? Naw I shall divulge.
My parents surprised me a couple of weeks ago by telling me not only were they going to buy my plane ticket but they were coming too. Friday at 4:30am I got up and got ready to go to the airport. Lisa's flight was an hour before ours so we were just going to go to the airport together. Ryan dropped us off and we went to Jamba Juice to get what is now a ritual smoothie before taking early morning flights for football. I swear every time the same girl is working.
Lisa left to catch her flight and I sat there for a bit drinking my smoothie and texting my friend Jen about how excited I was. Kind of like a it was my football Christmas morning.
Finally, my parents arrived and we all checked in and boarded the plane for Vegas. We took off around 7:15 am and although I had not slept a whole lot the night before, I had a hard time sleeping on the plane. For one thing, I was sitting in between my parents and they were both excited too and talking my ear off. So I tried to focus on reading my book on the development of the city of New York. Yes, people I am a nerd. But I found out the origin of wearing a baseball cap sideways...bet you didn't know that! (Bowery area boys trying to rebel)
We landed around 9:30am. This being my 3rd trip to Vegas in 2 months made me the tour guide for my parents as we found our way to the baggage claim. We found Lisa there waiting for us. As I saw my football bag coming around the corner of the conveyor belt and then I saw one of my cleats...WTF?! Apparently one had fallen out of the side pocket which was half open. Thank god I found it lol
My parents took a cab to their hotel which was the Red Rock over by the field we were going to play at and Lisa and I took a cab to our hotel which was the Super 8. You see we decided that since we have already been to Vegas twice we were content paying a lot less for a room that was next to everything anyways.
We checked in and dropped off our stuff and ate lunch at Ellis Island. It was pretty damn good and well priced for Vegas. Then we went back and took a nap. Ok, well Lisa passed out and I slept like 20 minutes at time before waking up again.
The rest of our group had decided to drive down and they got to our room around 1pm. We stuffed 6 of us into that room. Me, Lisa, Tracy, Red, Terina, and Chew. We made that shit work! When you travel as much as we have this year you don't really care anymore lol
Our hotel was literally around the corner from the Tuscany which was where most of the players were staying. Lisa and I went to the hotel around 3pm to register and get our jerseys. Teters met us up there. It was pretty cool being in the same room with so much talent. Our jerseys were red.
We ran into some of the Central Cal girls which was cool. We also ran into some of the Utah Blitz players. I think we have a natural bond because we are in the same division.
Then my team had apparently not gotten the memo that the practice field was NOT where we were going to play the game and we drove all the way out there to find no one there and had to drive all the way back and ended up late to the practice which sucked cuz you're hot and sticky in the car and trying to find the place. But we did.
We arrived at the practice field and threw our shit on and ran onto the field. I got selected as a corner so I found my defensive group. I knew some of them from my division and got to meet the rest. I loved the fact I was talking to players from Iowa and Memphis and all over. I really enjoyed our coach as well.
We went over where everyone was playing and general formations and play calling. We were going to try to keep it as simple as possible because it's hard meshing like that in a couple hours of practice. What cover 3 means to one team might mean something to another. Then we went against the Offense a bit so they could practice their plays.
After practice we went back to the hotel to shower and get dressed cuz we were going to do something for Lisa's birthday. I met up with Angie and her crew at the Tuscany and we walked back to Ellis Island where Lisa and I had had lunch. We put in a reservation as we waited for the rest of my team to meet us up. Angie and I played some of the slots. It took forever for us to get all seated but we eventually did. It was cool having both teams at the same table cuz we were pretty big rivals during the season.
After dinner my team decided they were going to back to the hotel but I was wanting to get out so I went with the Central Cal team. We walked down to the strip and in and out of Casinos before we finally ended up at the Krave club. It was pretty cool. And yes people from Portland can dance ok? :) Well until a gay boy wearing nothing but a thong backs his ass into you until you almost fall over...then it's a bit harder...
We left the club and I got to sleep about 1am. I woke up around 10am very excited for the game. I went to the store and re-stocked up on water, gatorade, and fruit which is very necessary in the Vegas heat. It wasn't as bad as the first 2 times we played there but still hot. I hung out in the hotel room and then Angie and I went to the deli where I go a roast beef sandwich. In case you wanted to know.
Then my team left for the field around 2 15pm. Our teammates dropped us off by the locker rooms. Lisa and I found our side and started getting ready. I set up shop in the last row next to a couple of players from Houston. We compared notes on how hard it was to find good white football pants and they shared with me them teasing their teammates who were coming in the last minute about not getting their jerseys for them when in fact they had. Sounded like something I would do to my teammates. Everyone piled in the locker room getting ready in their own ways.
Then we walked onto the field. I looked up and down our sideline amazed at the size and talent and proud to be wearing a red jersey...although I kept looking down expecting to see purple and was thrown off by the red...It was funny to me that whenever I said I was from Portland people would be like "oh you guys are the purple team".
We went through warm ups pretty excited but relaxed. Then it came time for kick off. At practice we had been told we would figure out special teams pre-game. Our team was going to receive the kick off and I got thrown onto the first line. I had never played on the first line on my teammate cuz I normally receive kick offs but I was like ok...umm...find a player and hit them...ok I can do that...
I had the honor of working with a good group of db's. We had a 4 play rotation worked out. We communicated very well in my group I think. The first half was basically a defensive battle as both offenses were struggling to mesh their players together and get them on the same page. I had a couple of tackles and contained on the outside. I did have a penalty when the receiver turned into me and fell. Everyone was surprised at the flag but oh well...best db's have the worst memories...
First half ended 0-0 and as I was running into the locker room to get my stuff with a couple other of my teammates I was joking and asking what happens if we have to go into overtime.
As we ran back onto the field Lisa and I heard our section yelling for us. I have to say I think we had the loudest group lol It was pretty special to me that all these people were supporting us.
The 2nd half the offenses started to click more. The national team struck first. I almost caught the girl close to the goal line but missed the angle.
Our offense marched back down and answered.
Then we got a pick and eventually scored again.
We took the win 13-7.
After the game we took pictures and I found my parents and teammates.
Angie and I got national championship t-shirs which are pretty cool.
I found my team sitting up with the Utah Blitz. We sat together and watched the national championship game. Apparently they find my team entertaining and have been following my facebook posts. And they loved teasing chewy about how young she looks.
Before the championship game they announced the awards and our team won the Rookie Team of the Year which was pretty damn cool. We got a little trophy. It was awesome because we worked so so hard to do this. We scrapped and clawed and raised around 40,000 ourselves without a specific owner. We ALL owned this team. WE did this. Together. It made me so proud that all that work was being rewarded.
The game itself was a good game. Columbus came out strong but the Mustangs came back to win it which was cool cuz they are from our conference. I tapped the celebration at the end because I want to use it for motivation. I want to feel that with my team. And dear god they grow em big in Texas. Just saying.
We went back to the hotel room and got showered and ready and then hit the strip. We ate panda express and then wondered over to the Belagio to meet up Tracy's friend who was randomly in town. She was pretty hilarious and was with her best friend who was just as fun.
Half our group was tired so they went back to the hotel. The rest of us wondered in and round Caesar's Palace. We then left the strip to meet up the Central Cal group who was at Free Zone, a gay club.
Little did we know how damn far we were from there. It took us about an hour to get there, stopping to get drink re-fills along the way. Then Tracy had to pee. We were around the Tuscany and she found a bush. We were admiring the cockroaches on the sidewalk and waiting for her. Then we saw a security guard making his rounds and we were like shit! He walked right by Tracy and didn't see her until in a drunken yell, (tracy didn't know why were staring at her with concerned stares) Tracy bops up her head from the bush and says "HELLLLOOO GUYS!" and he turned around confused as we all ran around the corner laughing hysterically.
After a long ass walk we found the club. Then they wouldn't let me in cuz I had a jersey on. So I borrowed sarah's wife beater. We had a couple drinks and danced a bit. Yes I got on the pole. No, you can't watch.
Then we left trying to go another club. It was closed so we decided we wanted to go to Hooters. Lisa the human GPS she is saw the sign for Hooters and we decided to go on an adventure/short cut. This consisted of going through a fence, walking by a canal which we thought might have dead bodies, then finding stones on which we could cross, walking through another break in the fence, crossing through an abandoned desert of a field, and back onto the street where Hooters was. It was a bit like a movie.
Angie, Melissa, and I got to Hooters first cuz the rest had gone to the store. We walked into the back and found the pool and got drinks and sat in the lounge chairs. Then Angie and I went to the blackjack table and she won like 10 bucks thanks to her wearing my armband. Ok really it's cuz she's good at it.
Then we all met up at a cafe and had breakfast at 5 30 am as the sun was coming up. We were exhausted from walking and all ordered cabs thinking we were really far away but the cab ride was like 6 bucks cuz we werent. We crashed in around 6am.
I woke up at like 9:30am and showered cuz one of the bad things about Vegas is all the smoke everywhere which makes you feel sticky and grungy after going out.
We packed all our shit up. I was the only one in my group that was flying out. The rest were driving back. I said goodbye to Angie and the Central Cal girls and then my team gave me a ride to my parents hotel.
I have to say, no wonder I didn't hear much from them. That place is amazing. It's called the Red Rock and it has a hotel and casino of course and like 6-7 places to eat and 2-3 clubs, and a movie theater and bowling alley, and huge ass pool with techno music playing outside. One could easily stay there and never leave the hotel.
My teammates and I ate lunch at a cafe and the food was amazing. We embarrassed the hell out of Lisa by singing happy birthday to her.
Then my teammates left and I wondered around playing the slots. There happened to be an international kids hop hop competition there that weekend so I saw all these cute Japanese kids with braids, wearing track suits and sneakers.
My parents and I took a cab around 6pm for the airport. Our flight left around 8 and we landed at 10:15pm. They dropped me home, dropped my bags in my room, checked facebook, and CRASHED.
What an epic weekend.
I was honored that I got selected to be on the All-American team for my conference. In addition to that Lisa, Teters, and Tucker got selected to the first team. T-Dawg and Rainbow got selected to the 2nd team. I was so proud of us to have so many selections as a first year team.
So what happened in Vegas? It stays there? Naw I shall divulge.
My parents surprised me a couple of weeks ago by telling me not only were they going to buy my plane ticket but they were coming too. Friday at 4:30am I got up and got ready to go to the airport. Lisa's flight was an hour before ours so we were just going to go to the airport together. Ryan dropped us off and we went to Jamba Juice to get what is now a ritual smoothie before taking early morning flights for football. I swear every time the same girl is working.
Lisa left to catch her flight and I sat there for a bit drinking my smoothie and texting my friend Jen about how excited I was. Kind of like a it was my football Christmas morning.
Finally, my parents arrived and we all checked in and boarded the plane for Vegas. We took off around 7:15 am and although I had not slept a whole lot the night before, I had a hard time sleeping on the plane. For one thing, I was sitting in between my parents and they were both excited too and talking my ear off. So I tried to focus on reading my book on the development of the city of New York. Yes, people I am a nerd. But I found out the origin of wearing a baseball cap sideways...bet you didn't know that! (Bowery area boys trying to rebel)
We landed around 9:30am. This being my 3rd trip to Vegas in 2 months made me the tour guide for my parents as we found our way to the baggage claim. We found Lisa there waiting for us. As I saw my football bag coming around the corner of the conveyor belt and then I saw one of my cleats...WTF?! Apparently one had fallen out of the side pocket which was half open. Thank god I found it lol
My parents took a cab to their hotel which was the Red Rock over by the field we were going to play at and Lisa and I took a cab to our hotel which was the Super 8. You see we decided that since we have already been to Vegas twice we were content paying a lot less for a room that was next to everything anyways.
We checked in and dropped off our stuff and ate lunch at Ellis Island. It was pretty damn good and well priced for Vegas. Then we went back and took a nap. Ok, well Lisa passed out and I slept like 20 minutes at time before waking up again.
The rest of our group had decided to drive down and they got to our room around 1pm. We stuffed 6 of us into that room. Me, Lisa, Tracy, Red, Terina, and Chew. We made that shit work! When you travel as much as we have this year you don't really care anymore lol
Our hotel was literally around the corner from the Tuscany which was where most of the players were staying. Lisa and I went to the hotel around 3pm to register and get our jerseys. Teters met us up there. It was pretty cool being in the same room with so much talent. Our jerseys were red.
We ran into some of the Central Cal girls which was cool. We also ran into some of the Utah Blitz players. I think we have a natural bond because we are in the same division.
Then my team had apparently not gotten the memo that the practice field was NOT where we were going to play the game and we drove all the way out there to find no one there and had to drive all the way back and ended up late to the practice which sucked cuz you're hot and sticky in the car and trying to find the place. But we did.
We arrived at the practice field and threw our shit on and ran onto the field. I got selected as a corner so I found my defensive group. I knew some of them from my division and got to meet the rest. I loved the fact I was talking to players from Iowa and Memphis and all over. I really enjoyed our coach as well.
We went over where everyone was playing and general formations and play calling. We were going to try to keep it as simple as possible because it's hard meshing like that in a couple hours of practice. What cover 3 means to one team might mean something to another. Then we went against the Offense a bit so they could practice their plays.
After practice we went back to the hotel to shower and get dressed cuz we were going to do something for Lisa's birthday. I met up with Angie and her crew at the Tuscany and we walked back to Ellis Island where Lisa and I had had lunch. We put in a reservation as we waited for the rest of my team to meet us up. Angie and I played some of the slots. It took forever for us to get all seated but we eventually did. It was cool having both teams at the same table cuz we were pretty big rivals during the season.
After dinner my team decided they were going to back to the hotel but I was wanting to get out so I went with the Central Cal team. We walked down to the strip and in and out of Casinos before we finally ended up at the Krave club. It was pretty cool. And yes people from Portland can dance ok? :) Well until a gay boy wearing nothing but a thong backs his ass into you until you almost fall over...then it's a bit harder...
We left the club and I got to sleep about 1am. I woke up around 10am very excited for the game. I went to the store and re-stocked up on water, gatorade, and fruit which is very necessary in the Vegas heat. It wasn't as bad as the first 2 times we played there but still hot. I hung out in the hotel room and then Angie and I went to the deli where I go a roast beef sandwich. In case you wanted to know.
Then my team left for the field around 2 15pm. Our teammates dropped us off by the locker rooms. Lisa and I found our side and started getting ready. I set up shop in the last row next to a couple of players from Houston. We compared notes on how hard it was to find good white football pants and they shared with me them teasing their teammates who were coming in the last minute about not getting their jerseys for them when in fact they had. Sounded like something I would do to my teammates. Everyone piled in the locker room getting ready in their own ways.
Then we walked onto the field. I looked up and down our sideline amazed at the size and talent and proud to be wearing a red jersey...although I kept looking down expecting to see purple and was thrown off by the red...It was funny to me that whenever I said I was from Portland people would be like "oh you guys are the purple team".
We went through warm ups pretty excited but relaxed. Then it came time for kick off. At practice we had been told we would figure out special teams pre-game. Our team was going to receive the kick off and I got thrown onto the first line. I had never played on the first line on my teammate cuz I normally receive kick offs but I was like ok...umm...find a player and hit them...ok I can do that...
I had the honor of working with a good group of db's. We had a 4 play rotation worked out. We communicated very well in my group I think. The first half was basically a defensive battle as both offenses were struggling to mesh their players together and get them on the same page. I had a couple of tackles and contained on the outside. I did have a penalty when the receiver turned into me and fell. Everyone was surprised at the flag but oh well...best db's have the worst memories...
First half ended 0-0 and as I was running into the locker room to get my stuff with a couple other of my teammates I was joking and asking what happens if we have to go into overtime.
As we ran back onto the field Lisa and I heard our section yelling for us. I have to say I think we had the loudest group lol It was pretty special to me that all these people were supporting us.
The 2nd half the offenses started to click more. The national team struck first. I almost caught the girl close to the goal line but missed the angle.
Our offense marched back down and answered.
Then we got a pick and eventually scored again.
We took the win 13-7.
After the game we took pictures and I found my parents and teammates.
Angie and I got national championship t-shirs which are pretty cool.
I found my team sitting up with the Utah Blitz. We sat together and watched the national championship game. Apparently they find my team entertaining and have been following my facebook posts. And they loved teasing chewy about how young she looks.
Before the championship game they announced the awards and our team won the Rookie Team of the Year which was pretty damn cool. We got a little trophy. It was awesome because we worked so so hard to do this. We scrapped and clawed and raised around 40,000 ourselves without a specific owner. We ALL owned this team. WE did this. Together. It made me so proud that all that work was being rewarded.
The game itself was a good game. Columbus came out strong but the Mustangs came back to win it which was cool cuz they are from our conference. I tapped the celebration at the end because I want to use it for motivation. I want to feel that with my team. And dear god they grow em big in Texas. Just saying.
We went back to the hotel room and got showered and ready and then hit the strip. We ate panda express and then wondered over to the Belagio to meet up Tracy's friend who was randomly in town. She was pretty hilarious and was with her best friend who was just as fun.
Half our group was tired so they went back to the hotel. The rest of us wondered in and round Caesar's Palace. We then left the strip to meet up the Central Cal group who was at Free Zone, a gay club.
Little did we know how damn far we were from there. It took us about an hour to get there, stopping to get drink re-fills along the way. Then Tracy had to pee. We were around the Tuscany and she found a bush. We were admiring the cockroaches on the sidewalk and waiting for her. Then we saw a security guard making his rounds and we were like shit! He walked right by Tracy and didn't see her until in a drunken yell, (tracy didn't know why were staring at her with concerned stares) Tracy bops up her head from the bush and says "HELLLLOOO GUYS!" and he turned around confused as we all ran around the corner laughing hysterically.
After a long ass walk we found the club. Then they wouldn't let me in cuz I had a jersey on. So I borrowed sarah's wife beater. We had a couple drinks and danced a bit. Yes I got on the pole. No, you can't watch.
Then we left trying to go another club. It was closed so we decided we wanted to go to Hooters. Lisa the human GPS she is saw the sign for Hooters and we decided to go on an adventure/short cut. This consisted of going through a fence, walking by a canal which we thought might have dead bodies, then finding stones on which we could cross, walking through another break in the fence, crossing through an abandoned desert of a field, and back onto the street where Hooters was. It was a bit like a movie.
Angie, Melissa, and I got to Hooters first cuz the rest had gone to the store. We walked into the back and found the pool and got drinks and sat in the lounge chairs. Then Angie and I went to the blackjack table and she won like 10 bucks thanks to her wearing my armband. Ok really it's cuz she's good at it.
Then we all met up at a cafe and had breakfast at 5 30 am as the sun was coming up. We were exhausted from walking and all ordered cabs thinking we were really far away but the cab ride was like 6 bucks cuz we werent. We crashed in around 6am.
I woke up at like 9:30am and showered cuz one of the bad things about Vegas is all the smoke everywhere which makes you feel sticky and grungy after going out.
We packed all our shit up. I was the only one in my group that was flying out. The rest were driving back. I said goodbye to Angie and the Central Cal girls and then my team gave me a ride to my parents hotel.
I have to say, no wonder I didn't hear much from them. That place is amazing. It's called the Red Rock and it has a hotel and casino of course and like 6-7 places to eat and 2-3 clubs, and a movie theater and bowling alley, and huge ass pool with techno music playing outside. One could easily stay there and never leave the hotel.
My teammates and I ate lunch at a cafe and the food was amazing. We embarrassed the hell out of Lisa by singing happy birthday to her.
Then my teammates left and I wondered around playing the slots. There happened to be an international kids hop hop competition there that weekend so I saw all these cute Japanese kids with braids, wearing track suits and sneakers.
My parents and I took a cab around 6pm for the airport. Our flight left around 8 and we landed at 10:15pm. They dropped me home, dropped my bags in my room, checked facebook, and CRASHED.
What an epic weekend.
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