Where are we now?

Hello, its been a long time since we've posted, maybe this is the demise of the blog, I'll keep living with a few posts time from time.

I bet most of you out there are questioning what the hell are we doing if we're not blogging. Well let me try and explain, hopefully the boys will chime in soon and give you all a shout out what we're up too in more detail.

As for me, your "Chairman," well you all know I've moved down to Baltimore, MD to chase a career in finance. I've been working at MS for about 6mo's getting as much experience as I possibly can on a bond desk. I've been extremely lucky to have all my friends come down and visit my ass in the CharmCity!

The ladder part of 2010 have been very good to the 501 boys in terms of our personal careers. You know that what I've been doing, but lets not forget about...

Jay, who's been promoted at IC in which he received a tremendous package with a great title!! Another great step in the right direction, this opens many doors for this this little lad. He'll be able to learn and understand the all the rules, regulations and bylaws of the greater organization, he's my own little sports lawyer! Lots of luck John!

Mikey5 was personally sought out from a person he used do business with in the past to spearhead a new initiative and at an up and coming company. He's actually in a position to hire people, goes to show he always knew what he was doing and now hows the responsibility to choose a team of his own!

MattyG has been working his balls off by indulging in another masters degree. Yes, you heard my right I said another! Besides his 9 to 5 and grad school he's added a more than part-time internship to better his brand for promotion, way to go Matty keep trucking!

Finally our boy and your favorite writer Brendan. Since he's stepped foot in the lions den he's been promoted several times, been able to lead different projects, create new clubs and organizations. In fact I would like to congratulate MCRFC as they've just finished a 2010 campaign to remember in which they've brought home not just a winning season but a MetNY Title! Congrats to all who are involved. Brendan has also been given the opportunity to feed the minds of eager students in math! Congrats Bren! Keep trucking!

Hopefully you all can update us on whats new in your lives! We're eager to hear whats new in the lives off all you young professionals!

Remember a real successful person is in bed before 10pm and up before 7am, if not then your just up to no good!

Cheers

Matt

ICRFC

Today the Iona College Rugby Team was eliminated from the DII Rugby Championships after one of the best seasons in team's history.

I was lucky enough to be part of the last Met Union Championship squad, and even more blessed to have coached ICRFC last year in the there 2009-10 campaign. With that being said its fair enough to feel emotionally attached to the this year's team too. Every Sunday night I send my texts to this year's Asst. Coach Pat Fiffe, team Moderator Tyler Cardinal and ICRFC's Administrator Antonio Lytle for the latest results in that day's test.

Its been hard enough to leave my family, friends, job, city, and home but even harder to leave my boys. I'm so proud of them this year, I know how much they fought.

To the Seniors, brush today's loss off and concentrate on all the other memories of success and bask in the brother hood that is ICRFC. You will have each other forever, the way I have my brothers. No matter how much time passes or how many miles come between you all, you'll always have the memories from the pitch in your hearts.

Lets grow as an organization, keep the alumni games, newsletters and get togethers frequent. Its important to keep in touch and keep the underclassmen involved. We need to take care of our own through fundraisers, donations, internships, job placements and of course drink-ups. '

Join me in applauding this year's team in their success! Can't wait to lay a "woof-woof" on someone of you in the spring!

What Kind of Man Are You

Last night I was randomly asked by a woman in a bar, "What kind of man are you?" As I took a brief moment to think it over, a lot of different things came to mind. Am I a moral person? Am I GOD loving person, Do I have good hygiene, Am I lovable, Am I able to love? What do My friends think of me? So answered, "Umm I think I'm a good guy?"

She looked at me with a befuddled and says, "no no, are you ass man or boob guy?"

Well, now this brought on a whole new set of thoughts. What kind of guy am I?What do I prefer? Boobs or Butt? Do I even have a preference?

I simply replied, "Honestly...I don't know!" We laughed it off and took the conversation else where. This got me thinking though, what do I actually prefer? What do most guys prefer? Can this be a viable debate? Lets find out.

So, lets see do I have a sub conscience opinion?

I've dated and talked to some very different women, not sure which category they all fill into. I've dated girls with A-cups, B-cups even D-cups, with all those different cups you'd think I was filling a bowl of alphabet soup up. Does that make me a breast man? I mean, I'd be lying to you all if I didn't say we as men don't always take a sneak peak when we can. We're not all animalistic, I think its important that we don't stare at them all the time, we definitely should keep constant eye contact with a woman when having a conversation.

This brings us to the other side of this debate, am I butt man? I really don't think so, however some women out there can really make your head sit on a swivel. There is nothing like a woman in a great pair of jeans, or some sexy business slacks. I think most men out there are ass men though, or at least most of my friends. I'd love to say a great smile and personality should be the determining factor of why we men and women attract each other but lets be serious.

In the end, I think I'm just a face guy. I know, I know that's vein, but to me I'll take a perfect smile over any great set.

What's argument for women? Whats their butts or boobs argument? The great debate continues...

Hello There!

Hello!!!

Bless me Huguenuts for it has been 4 months since my last post.

Since my last post I have moved down to Baltimore, MD and have been working in a brand new industry in a brand new city with brand new sports fans, bars and ladies around me!

If you haven't been to Baltimore I suggest visiting, its a hell of a weekend get-away. Between the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, Little Italy and Canton there's a bar and restaurant on every corner. I can't even explain how many times Jay, 5, G and I would search for a place in New Ro or even NYC to enjoy a great happy hour and eat outside by the water. Well Baltimore has all of that, I've never seen a place that has happy hour's every night of the week!

I've recently just signed up for a Boccie ball league, lets see how that turns out.

Brenden has visited twice, Jay this weekend and the Gman for Halloween. That leaves Mikey5 where you big man?

Even though the Jets lost, I loved going to the pub and being heckled by an absurd amount of Ravens fans! These people really love their football, and hate the Steelers! Its pretty hysterical, one thing that I'm not used to seeing is all the support the women of Baltimore have for the Ravens. Brendan and to the preseason game vs the Giants, and it seems there was a large amount of women and families attending the games. I don't recall seeing a female at either Jets or Giants games.

I'll keep the first post back pretty short and simple, don't want to bombard you all with a bunch of stories! I do however feel a major disconnect from the NY sports scene, so make sure Mikey5 keeps up his posting!

Go Jets!

Predictions for September

Simple Short and to the point

I want to make my ease back into blogging an easy subtle one

this is based around the New York sports teams and some games that are coming up that actually matter

New York Yankees - Will Finish 1 Game over the Rays to take the division, the Rays will get the wild card, and the Sox might be the only 80something win team to not make it in the playoffs

as much as I HATE the Sox they were delt a bad hand this year and Francona played it to the best of his ability

New York Giants - With all of the hoopla of hardknocks and the head coach of the new york Jets Peter Griffin- I mean Rex Ryan I like that the Giants are flying under the radar, I do not like that the entire NFC east is flying under the radar, I mean each and every NFC east team will have max 9 wins and beat each other up so the winner will lose in the first round of the playoffs

New York Jets - 9 or 10 Wins, make the playoffs, all the egos don't gel, Rex is still hilarious...

New York Knicks - This Just in...Knicks become relevant.....wait that never happened, all they did was get a good big man that needs a good point guard, they will h

owever be be

tter but since when does New York, say the 8th spot in the playoffs and a .500 record is good enough for us?

lets hope NY becomes relevant in the NBA discussion, better for the city and it is better for basketball, Amare is a great addition, i just cant wait to see how the CP3 and melo thing playout....

New York Mets - the picture of rex ryan throwing the first pitch kind of encompasses the mets entire season

Saints Mash the Vikings in the opener.......

Farewell NY

It is with much sorrow that I bid a farewell to the great state of New York. The place where I was born and raised, the place where I had my first beer, my first conquest, my first heartbreak, my first rugby game, my first time jumping into ice covered lakes, my first fist fight, my first kiss...well you get the idea my first everything pretty much.

Most of all I would have to say the place where I met the boys of 501. If it wasn't for college (which is in NY) I would have never met Brendan, Jay, Mikey5 or Matty G. I would have never lived with them, never went on vacations with them, never beat them all up, never laughed with them and most of all I would have never loved them.

At the end of the month I will be heading 200 plus miles south to Baltimore, MD for a new job/career. I would have to say the main feeling is nervous excitement. I'm nervous as hell to just pick up and move, especially without any family or friends, however I'm really excited about this new opportunity!

With that being said, I feel this blog has taken a big step in the communication factor for the 501 boys. Because as of July 1, this marks when all 4 members will not be living with at least one other. So this blog should be stronger, if not for our fans but for us. It will give us the opportunity to communicate with each other as new shit pops up in our lives.

This move also gets me 4 hours closer to Calabash, NC, the site of the 2010 summer jump off tour that 501 embarks on annually. So, hopefully you'll be hearing from G, Jay, 5 and Brendan soon!

Peace out NY, its been real!

Love, Lust, or.....Nothing At All

Love...

The four letter word that carries the distinction of being one of the most powerful words in history. Word, is it really a word, isn't it a feeling, a motivation, an adjective, a movement, or a power?. Let's define it...Definition: "strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties."

It seems that all eras of history have stories about love, but are we to believe the truth behind them all? Are they written by people in love, or people seeking, or just by people who believe in what they think is love? Can't you ask 5 different people of what they think love is, and wouldn't they give you 5 completely different adaptations? What are we to believe, feel, say, or think?

Did you really love your high school sweet heart? You did talk about being together forever? What about your college girlfriend? What about the girl you met at a party or bar and you didn't grab her number and you let her get away? What about that blond female rugger who really isn't the best looking girl of the lot, but shit she's on your mind all the time!

Are these just questions guys have? Is love a simpler process for women? Are we thinking love or are we thinking lust, and if so will it go away or will we just have to control it when we're married?

I've written on this topic once before, sometimes I wish there was a protocol for this, but that it not going to happen anytime soon. Is it okay not to want what your parents have told you from a young age? Maybe I don't' want to get married, and I don't think that's an immature statement, I just think maybe it's not for me.

I do enjoy the beginning of love, or lust or butterflies...whatever you call it, you know what it is. It's that newness of someone.

What's your take on it? I'm interested in hearing all about what you think?

Added Misery

Ah added misery, what is that you ask? We'll that's what I like to call a rainy day! Here in NY we're on our second straight day of clouds in the sky, a cold damp breeze and 48 hours of pure misery.

Rainy days just make every little blemish life throws at you that much worse. It feels like a scene right out of the movie Office Space when the lead character explains to the hypnotist that every day is the worst day of his life, so when you see him he's having the worst day of his life, and that tomorrow is worse than yesterday! I mean in all honesty what is worse than already having a bad day, week, month or year plus RAIN!

You can't do anything on a rainy day, at least in the snow you can have off from class and booze all day, or play snow football. On the most arid of days you can hit up the beach or a seat at the pool bar. The possibilities are endless during the summer!

I'm so ready for summer to come! Can't wait to hit the links with the boys down in Calabash, NC.

Just Breathe

I know its been a while, I know I promised that we would all try a little harder to actually blog instead of just saying we will. Its coming to that part of the year where the sun shines a little brighter and the days extend a bit more, so we have a lot more time to do more as a group. We've scheduled our Calabash trip, we'll be going to Yankee games, we'll certainly be hitting the links soon, and through much hesitation we'll be entering those dreadful 5k's!

I don't have much more to say, but I would like to leave you with some Pearl Jam that I think sums up how I'm feeling on this bright Wednesday morning...

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTb9GNIxpMk

The Light at the End of the Regular Season

So I'm lounging around in my sweats acting like a real loaf at my parent's place today on Long Island. This is probably the first weekend I've had off since basically basketball season started. Mind you, a lot of what I do is semi-volunteer. I choose to go to the games and follow the team, but then someone usually needs me to do something, so it's just better that I show up and participate.

Now, don't get me wrong I would rather be at work right now helping the team prepare for the big dance, but unfortunately that's not happening this year. However, there's been rumors that we might be playing in one of those "other" postseason tourney's, either the CIT or the CBI. What's your take on them?

Here are my questions...

As a coach are you praised for making one? Are you frowned upon by turning it down? Will next year's resume include a bid to the CBI or CIT? Will there be a banner next year in the rafters with CBI on it like schools do for the NIT?

Did the NIT go through all of this skepticism when they first started or the NCAA tourney? Should there be a few more of these tourney's kind of like the bowl system for football? Does this give Mid-Majors a better chance to feel like a champion and not like a little brother who has to sit out and lose right away when he gets in the game?

I have to say, I like the idea, I would like it more if there were more of them with categories. More Mid-Major tourney's would give these schools and programs more recognizable fame, but will the corporate sponsors support? It just feels a little unjustified when several Big East teams or Big Ten, SEC, ACC and BIG 12 teams get the nod. Granted their R.P.I's are significantly lower, but it would be nice that a 20+ Mid Major gets to play in the post season...

What are your thoughts?

Nomaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Sure, he likely did roids, yes, he never quite lived up to his billing as one of the game's best shortstops, indeed, he was often injured, and there's certainly an argument to be made that the Sawx wouldn't have ended The Curse had Mia Hamm's hubby still been on the team in 2004.

Nonetheless, the man who I can fondly remember learning about from my late grandfather while taking in a afternoon Pawtucket Paw Sox game in the early 90's remains one of my favorite Red Sox players of all-time. In fact, he was an extended family favorite...cousins, uncles, aunts and grandparents loved the man who's name is synonymous with the famous Beantown accent.

Now he's off to a well-deserved commentator gig at ESPN, I expect the former Georgia Tech superstar (teammate of Jason Varitek on that team by the way) to be excellent in the role.

Unlike walking trainwrecks such as Allen Iverson, Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, Nomar gets it in much the same way that Howie Long, Mark Jackson, Dan Marino and Magic Johnson continue to get it. We crush these athletes for their inflated salaries, but folks at the end of the day after paying agents, immense taxes, their "entourage," ridiculous house/car payments, etc. they have many of the same financial problems that we encounter.

Only a select few athletes understand that their earning potential is limited to 5, 6, maybe 7 years if they're lucky!

Guys like Nomar understand that they must have a life after they finally hang up the cleats.

So Nomaaaaaaaaaaaa I wish you best, just wish you could have been with the rest of the The Idiots when they won that ring in 2004...I'd argue there's no one more deserving!

Tell Us What You Don't Like About Yourself

Well 501 fans, last night at 11:00PM brought about the end of an era, and no one is more sad to see it end than I. I began watching Nip/Tuck in 2003 with my buddy Chris. We were instantly hooked! Lust, greed, violence, pride, envy, gluttony, lies, drugs and enough sex to make even Tiger say "Ohhh boy!" It's basically the Seven Deadly Sins personified!

Now if you're one of the 4 people that read this blog, you know 99% of the time you'll find a sporting event of some kind on my T.V. But not so on Wednesday nights at 10:00PM for the past 7 years.

Television's most provocative show has chronicled the lives of plastic surgeons Christian Troy and Sean McNamara...Christian, the more aggressive and "assholish" of the two is the guy you love to hate...obnoxious and selfish, while Sean is very much a representation of the guy you love to love, sure he can be wild like his buddy, but in reality he's a shy guy with a great heart.

Now there are some who have been turned off by the soft core porn nature of the show (flip on PBS and have a blast with that big purple f*ck Barney!), and there are others who've lost interest over the years (ya watching a bunch of fat asses lose weight only to get fatter when they return home really caught my interest too!), and still there are others who've found the story lines to be so outrageous that the show is unwatchable (ya I really fancy watching a bunch of blue half human/half freaks fly around and protect some ancient tree in my cool 3D glasses!), but when you take a closer look at the show you'll find a greater meaning...a message to the world if you will, a message likely everyone of us has been told at one time or another in our lives.

It's not about what's on the outside, but what lies beneath.

For years, Christian and Sean have made a fortune operating on every ounce of genitalia, making it larger, smaller, sexier. But it wasn't until last night that they realized life is much more than that.

The show ended with the destruction of McNamara/Troy as Sean went off to Bucharest to help less fortunate children and Christian stayed back in L.A. at the newly created Troy/Cruz (Lizzy, the beloved anastegeologist who's but up with the boys shortcomings for years was finally named partner).

So friends, I asked you not to look in the mirror each morning and observe your flaws, but rather to ask yourself the opposite of what Christian and Sean asked all their consults for seven years...What Do You Like About Yourself?

Albany Here We Come!

If you're an avid reader of 501 then you obviously know by now that the authors of this blog are avid College Hoops fans. As all hoops fan go, we obviously root our hearts and throats out for one team a little more than the others. That one team would be our Alma mater the Iona Gaels! When the Gaels travel, well so do we. If a college team had roadies, well it would be us. We're not at that stage in our lives where we can be considered faithful benefactors, we're more like obsessed fanatics.

You see before the Gaels, Mikey5 rooted for the TarHeels, Jay, the Huskies of UCONN, Brendan, the FabFive and Miiiiiiiiiichigan, and as for me, the Johnnies. But we all can remember that day where we first stepped foot in the Mulcahy Center, were upon crossing the threshold we were given that arrogant gold t-shirt that gave the definition of what it meant to be a Mulcahy Maniac. And boys, I think we held true to that meaning.

Jay and I will be traveling up to the Times Union Center up in Albany where the MAAC tournament is held tonight. Brendan and Mikey5 are coming up on Saturday.

If you live outside of the MetroArea then you probably haven't heard of us, unless we came to your local hometown and smacked your team up, that's a good possibility. We might not be on national television, and we might not be part of the big6, but if you want hard nose defense, no easy baskets, fast pace play and 3's coming down like rain, then sport the maroon and gold and root for the Gaels.

We hope to see you Albany.

Angry Post: Weathermen (and ladies)

Readers of 501 (if any) i am sure you have read my previous post about my anger with the USA mens curling team. Well i am officially over that and onto a new annoyance in my life (worst then when you have an endless wipe after taking a dump). Over the past 3 months i live breath and die on snow (ask any of my roommates or friends) i live for the white stuff (get your mind out of the gutter). I just can not take it anymore............ WEATHER MEN AND WOMEN SUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never heard of a job where you can continously f*ck up and keep your job and sometimes get a freaking raise! if i knew this shit growing up i would have taken getting beat up in middle school because i was staring at the clouds because today i would be laughing at all those kids who beat me up and now have no job and work hard! Weather people are constantly wrong and it pisses me off! can you please do your job right and predict how many inches of snow i can go play paintball in or get a day off of work for! i can understand when weather people were wrong 20 years ago but now with all of the technology they should be spot on everyday!!! So all you loyal readers out there; do me one favor in future...... tell your kids to become a weather person because you can be right 50% of the time and still make more money then the average joe!

A Third Perspective

Well we've heard Jay's criticism and we've gazed at Cips' snowbunnies (Damnnnn Claudia Toth!), now time for my thoughts on the Olympic Games. I'd like to look at it from the fan's point of view...why do we watch, do we enjoy what we're watching, how's oft-criticised NBC doing as our host?

First off, I must admit, I sweat (like a sausage wrapped in casing...sorry Hannah!!!!!!) the Olympics...the pageantry, the background stories, the nationalism, the side bets regarding who falls in the 500m speedskate (thanks Cips!)...I crave it like a Power Breakfast crafted by the caffeinated hands of Sven!

Now, it wouldn't be the Olympics without criticism and complaints...the tragedy of the Georgian luger, the objectification and sexification of women (i.e. Mrs. Vonn's well-toned rump on the cover of Sports Illustrated), the controversial outfits worn by the Russian ice dancing team, the constant questions of are we forcing these young athletes into too much at such an early age? What we've heard perhaps most from this particular Olympiad though is NBC's telecast. Ahhh, the ole' Peacock is at it again!

What's with all the tape delayed action!

I already know the outcome of this event!

I want to watch skiing live!

Folks, let's step back for a moment and realize the world we live in. A world of incredible technology and speed, a world where you can literally operate your life from your smartphone...guys, info is going to get out! You don't want to find out if Bode Miller missed a gate on the Giant Slalom? Go live in a f*cking hole for a day! Even then, the mice invading 501 Huguenot would probably tell you the often inebriated man failed to medal!

NBC and my main man Robert Costas (by the way, has the man ever worn the same suit twice!) continue to provide excellent journalism...fantastic personal stories of the athletes, in depth coverage, and as much live action as they could possibly provide.

I find it funny how so many people criticize the Olympics as boring and unimportant, yet it significantly out drew American Idol!! Hey, maybe Dick Ebersol does know what the hell he's doing!

I'm dumbfounded when I hear people complain on the radio about NBC's primetime package. They bitch about the network jumping from event to event, generally offering little bits and pieces of highlights from earlier in the day. Umm guys, those of us who have jobs and more importantly, a life, don't have time to watch the NBC coverage during the day. We love the small highlight package! So what if we know the outcome!

I liken the Olympics to the NFL...they give us just enough to keep us interested, and leave us wanting more. All these people wanting the NFL to add games? I think you're crazy...the weekend after the Superbowl, what did we all crave? Some more gridiron action! But now we must wait until August to see it again...this keeps the product fresh and viable. Unlike the regular seasons of basketball, baseball and hockey that are watered down and last an eternity.

The Olympics (including the summer and winter games) come around every two years. Imagine if we had skiing, swimming and God forbid, curling on every weekend? We'd get sick of it! But every four years? Sure, I'll tune into watch Johnny Weir's ridiculous man cleavage and to see if Apolo Ohno's soul patch got any longer!

Folks, ask yourself this question the day after the Closing Ceremonies? What could I use a little more of right now? Ahh, the Olympics! That's the beauty of it! Two weeks for us to rout for our home country (or Germany if you're me!), two weeks for your grandmother to get familiar with the snowboarding exploits of the "Flying Tomato," two weeks to learn how you and your Uncle Bill can freeze down your driveway, grab mom's best china, dad's favorite broom and dream of your Olympic curling debut!

The Olympics are a great thing my friends... and as we used to say in the Eastern Bloc...Brah, Brah!

The Lighter Side

Going with Jay's thoughts on the Olympics, which I have to agree with, I feel its necessary for post 201 to be a little bit brighter. I'll try and give the positives of the 2010 Olympics from back yard of our neighbor from the north.

First off we (USA) are leading in overall medal count, which for Brendan is a terrible stat. Brendan unlike my self bet against his mother land and picked any other country in the world. Shame on him, I guess the little guy thought Ireland would run away with it in Vancouver.

Both US hockey teams are doing quite well, both the women and men have made it past pool play and are now in the elimination rounds, best of luck to them both. Lindsey "I can break my shin and still win" Vonn won gold in the women's downhill, while her counterpart Bodie "I could care less" Miller took home a bronze.

No one from the US has died...still a plus.

Shaun White raked up another 50 medals in the "so called" sport of half-pipe. I really don't see why snow board halfpipe has to be an Olympic sport. Well, I guess I do, it appeals to the younger generation, and since White nets 10million+ a year theres probably a boat load of money it. Tell that to Jay's boy Schuster who's a bartender.

Now onto probably the best positive of them all...

The ladies of 2010! This would most likely be a better category for Mikey5 if he ever gets out of a that coma he suffered in the spring. I'll name a few, but please by all means comment back if you've noticed any other skibunnies up there in Vancouver.

Denmark's Madeline Dupont

USA's Lindsey Vonn, Tanith Belbin, Allsion Baver, Allison Pottinger, Natalie Darwitz, Gretchen Bleiler,

Canada's Ashleigh McIvor, Shannon Rempel, Cheryl Bernard

Great Britain's Eve Muirhead, Chemmy Alcott, Penny Coomes

Finland's Kiira Korpi

Belgium's Isabelle Pieman

Germany's Aliona Savchenko, Andrea Henkel, Anni Friesinger

Sweden's Jenette Hargin

Korea's Kim Yu-Na

Russia's Liudmila Privivkova

Australia's Claudia Toth

Thats just few that I could think of...

200th Post - An angry one!!!

If you ask anyone over the past week and a half what i have been up too and paying the most attention too, it is not my bank accounts or my girlfriend, it is the Olympics. I have a hugeeeeeeeeeeeeeee soft spot for the Olympics. I stay up all night watching them hoping to see my country win a medal and be the best. What has impressed me over these Olympics is how we have the country's "best" in all Olympic sports competing. Some sports we cant touch such as Ski Jump or Cross Country skiing, other countries such as Germany and Russia are better than us. But what really really really gets my blood boiling is when we are very good at a sport andddddddddddddddddddddddddddd SHIT THE BED EVERY-TIME WE PLAY!!!! That is what is occurring with our USA Men's Curling team. In Torino we took home Bronze and played well. In Vancouver this year we flat out have had the opportunity to win every match and have lost them all except 2! You guys are supposed to be the best curlers in AMERICA!!!! Very routine shots that you have made you're whole life...... you are missing!!!BADDDDDD!!!!! (just to give the readers an idea, a routine shot for them is like a breakaway dunk for Lebron James) The thing that really gets under my skin is how it is the same guy who is supposed to be the leader and veteran on the team- John Shuster (see picture below). He is the Brett Favre of Curling except he is choking and then says "sorry guys i missed that one" and puts that stupid smurck on his face(see picture below). Hey John i got news for you, its not sorry, its "man i have sucked this Olympics let me take myself out!" After losing your first four matches that's when the old skipper (himself not a baseball manager) should have motioned to the bullpen and brought out the young guns who if they had made a mistake i could deal with but the young ins would be so naive that they wouldn't get nervous and we probably would be in the hunt for a medal instead the team is in hunt for an early plane ticket home. I hope come 2014 we have a brand new young team who goes out and wins Gold. Thanks for listening to me rant!

Crunch Time

Have you ever felt enormous pressure in what seemed like the smallest of spaces? Its almost spring and I am already 3 months behind schedule in finding a new career and a new profession. I feel like I'm living in an apartment with a bunch of mice telling me to get the hell out of there and get on the road! The road to my future that is...

I'm starting to majorly regress, not giving up, but clearly I have started to feel the clouds darken. The only thing I'm looking forward to right now is waking up Saturday morning and watching Ireland take on England in the Six Nations Tourney with my friends!

Brendan, Mikey 5, Danny and my self will be traveling to NYC early that morning to indulge our selves with a traditional Irish breakfast and all the room temperature ales we can devour!

So join us at Arctica Bar & Grill, 384 3rd Avenue, NY on Saturday at Saturday 27th February 10am - 2pm !!!

Snowed In

If most of you are like me then you were giddy as all hell when you found out that the Metro area was going to be hit with a monster winter wonderland storm. If most of you were like me then you pissed off when you went to bed last night and still you saw none of that white shit falling from the sky. But as you awoke the next morning your eyes widened and your jaw dropped just as it did when you used to walk down the stairs on Christmas morning staring at a bunch of presents under the tree when you saw that your whole world was a bright white!

One of the perks of working in higher education is that you can still benefit from SNOW DAYS! That's right I'm 25 years old and I don't have work today due to inclement weather! Jealous? I bet you are sucka!

Now I don't get as excited as Jason does but I'm pretty stoked that I can just lounge around the couch, playing video games, eating gigantic bowls of cereal and watch 5 movies if I want.

The only thing that sucks about a snow day at 25 is...the inability to pound beers. Remember during the years of 18-21 when you were in your dorm or apartment and classes were canceled? Do you remember what you and friends suggested, planned, and executed? It was one of the most exciting days of the winter season, just sitting around doing exactly what I stated above only add in the catalyst of BudLight! I can see Mikey5 right now anxiously checking the school website and calling the school's number just waiting to read or listen to, "Today, February 10th 2010 all Day and Evening classes have been canceled and all administrative offices are closed." Well when he heard that he went nuts, waking all of us up jumping up and down, powering up the XBOX, setting up the pong table, grabbing what money we had together to run to CTown and pick up a 36!

Ahh the good old days...Well for all of you that can still enjoy a snow day, go crazy for me!

Why Do I Run?

The blog has been full of deep thoughts lately...questions regarding old life, new life and job status. I lightened it up a bit yesterday with my thoughts on Rex, Kurt and Kobe, but now I'm about to delve into more personal waters.

They say it's good therapy to write things down so let's give it a shot. There's some stuff in here the members of 501 likely don't even know.

The only reason I have ever been good at sports is because of my feet. I can run, and not particularly fast mind you, I can just run for a long time. Whether it was basketball, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, even tennis, my endurance carried me. Others were getting tired just as I was getting started.

I admit though, I was lazy as an athlete. It's something that I can't stand to say, but I know it's the truth. I rarely practiced my craft...I just enjoyed playing. Whether it was throwing the lacrosse ball against the wall, kicking around the soccer ball down at the park or playing hoops in the street until 9:30PM, I wasn't doing it to get better.

It's around 7th and 8th grade that you begin to identify which sports you have a potential in and which you're better off leaving behind. Junior high school of course meant tryouts, cuts and the occasional tears. I probably weighed about 100lbs soaking wet at this time...no physical specimen, but I always felt I had the mental edge.

It was at this time that I was introduced to cross-country. I decided to give it a shot, after all I was that kid you hated during the annual physical fitness challenge in elementary school. Remember those? Pushups, situps, sit and reach, the rope climb and of course, my favorite, the mile. I always fared well in the other events (mostly because I was as light as a feather), but the mile...ahhhh, I looked forward to that one. Lapping the fat kids, showing off to the girls, I owned that event.

I ended up running throughout my junior high school years, oh don't worry, I didn't give up lax, hoops or soccer...they were just put to the side, ready to be pulled out at a moment's notice. One sport stood out from the rest though...that orange leather ball, 10 players hustling up and down the hardwood floor, running, jumping, diving...it was like a Broadway play with sweat. It owned my heart.

After running cross-country the fall of my freshman year, it was time for bball tryouts (I put lax and soccer out of my mind...stupid and stupider!!). I had been going to summer camps for years, I played almost every day; still wasn't the biggest or strongest, but I had those feet...endurance would be my ticket!

I didn't make the cut. You see, out on the playground, in front of my house, shooting around with the guys...there were no nerves in those situations, that was all about having fun. Tryouts made me nervous, tense, reluctant. It took me a while, but I shook it off...I'll get 'em next year!

In place of basketball, I ran indoor track in the winter and then outdoor track in the spring. Hey, I was pretty good at this! His name was Kevin Buckley, he was my coach, and he quickly became my friend, mentor and father away from home. Oh and he was a diehard Giant fan! I loved the man, I listened to everything he said. He was a man who belonged in the 70's...beat-up tweed jacket, old-school personality, hundreds of great sayings and quotes...he did things his way. "No good deed goes unpunished Droge," he used to say.

Back in school for my sophomore year, I had a great season running cross-country...never quite hit the times Buckley wanted, but he knew I still had time to develop. I was a phenomenal runner in practice, one of the best he ever had in 20 years he'd say, just gotta get you more confident come the meets. No worries coach, it'll come...it could wait until next year anyway, I was off to get my revenge on the sport I loved.

I'll never forget the sarcastic tone he said it in,"Droge, you're not gonna make it, why are you wasting your time."

I didn't tryout for the team that year, I was crushed by what the man I'd grown to love said to me. Sure, he was probably right, but I didn't even give it a shot. I'll never let myself live that down.

Flash forward to my final race of my high school career....May of my senior year, on the fast track at Mount Saint Michael's. I was running the mile that day. At that point, I had still never broken 5 minutes in the mile (I want to put my hand through a window just writing that)...not because I wasn't good enough or fast enough, I never gave myself the chance to do it. I blew the field away in practice for 4 years in high school, but I never put in the extra effort when no one was watching. I never reached my full potential.

My teammates, friends, girlfriend, parents and grandparents watched as I flew around the track easily on pace to go sub 5. As I turned the final straight-away, I still thought I had it in the bag. As my foot crossed the line, I felt a knife go through my heart. I walked off the track and saw the man that I'd spent more time with in four years than some members of my family.

"I can't lie to you Droge, you saw the clock."

I had planned on running in college, but opted against it midway through that summer. Did I ever really enjoy this sport? Could I ever get over the heartbreak of that race? Could I ever forgive myself for not trying out for the basketball team my sophomore year?

It took me a while to get over the sting of that last race. I drank my face off freshman year and left the keeping in shape to others. It wasn't until the rugby team was being put back together that I saw a chance for rebirth, maybe new life?

I told myself from that point forward that I would never leave anything in the tank, I'd work when no one else was watching. As rugby started becoming more a part of my life, ironically so did running. It started out as just as way to get back into shape, but slowly it started once again feeling like that mile in elementary school.

After graduating, it started to consume my life. Every week, I looked forward to that weekend's race. 5k's, 10k's, half-marathons, full-marathons, even triathlons...I couldn't get enough of them. I loved the feeling of out kicking someone down the stretch, the feeling of blowing by someone who hadn't put in the work I had, the pain that circulates through your body from start to finish....I crave it all. At last, I started exercising those demons from high school.

To this day when people ask me why I run, I really don't know what to say. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it. Sometimes I wonder if it's simply a representation of how I deal with problems in life...just run.

One thing is for sure though, tomorrow morning, around 5:15AM when most of this country is sound asleep, I'll lace up my sneakers, throw on a pair of shorts and a shirt, head out my door into 20 degree weather. And right before I take that first step, two things will flash into my head (they're the same two things that come to mind any race I've done...whether it's on the start line at the Fourth of July 4-miler or starring up at the towering Verrazano Bridge before the New York City Marathon)...sophomore year basketball tryouts and the time I saw as I crossed the finish line that day in May of 2005.

5:00.7...sometimes 7 tenths of a second is all it takes to motivate someone for a lifetime.