BIRTHDAYS were a big deal in the Sullivan household as the three of us were growing up.("PEE birthday to you" chimed the revolving musical cakeplate when it was on it's last legs.)
Birthday meals were special. Mine was stuffed pork chops, mashed potatos, corn, and homemade butterscotch cake with mint green icing. It was fun to watch my younger siblings rushing to the bathroom.
Now, don't get me wrong. I don't recall the parents ever rounding up our friends and us to head out to Chuck E Cheese. That's probably because old Chuckee hadn't celebrated his own birthday yet.
Well, I just celebrated one (quietly) and heard from a few family members. The kids are busy but still find time to drop me a line, make a call, or buy me a gift. Usually all three. I am grateful.
My wife Phyl & I normally find some way to honor each other's B-days, both of which fall in the same month - with different birth signs. We're no longer "late nighters" so going clubbing is definitely not an option.
This year Phyl went to NFL.com and ordered me a fantastic long sleeve (extra -extra - big) Steeler shirt with the new official color and design.
I love it. I carefully unwrapped it and hung it on my side of the closet in a place of honor - not far from my other Steeler clothing gifts courtesy of daughter Beth and son Bruce.
BEDBUGS . Today my BW came out front to my office to discuss bedbugs. She again related the story about new clothing that was imported from China and contained bedbugs.
Due to some good advice from friend Harry, I immediately went on line to "Snopes.com" to research this latest foreign threat to our liberties and health from the strange and mysterious East.
I learned a lot, including their opinion that the threat was real, but not necessarily a new and vicious plot by our neighbors from the Orient. Limited space here causes me to suggest you research the article yourself if this has piqued your interest. My Snopes E-mail is entitled: "Bedbugs Clothes Dryer Extermination."
It seems that there are as few points of agreement as to the cure for the bedbugs as there are about The Tea Party candidates. Snopes did note, however: "The U.S. is experiencing an explosion in it's bedbug population."
The one item in their review that caught my fancy had to do with putting new clothes in the dryer before hanging them in the closet. (Little late for that one, huh?).
However, Snopes writes "the warning about new clothing seems to be a bit over the top though; we've yet to happen upon credible reports of bedbugs being found in such garments."
"Yeah," I thought, " but what if you're wrong and I have to put my new glorious Steeler jersey in the dryer? The cause of my concern is that, to my wife's consternation, I will not allow any of my shirts in the dryer for more than 4 to 5 minutes tops when doing the laundry.
Now, of course, they are wet going in and my new "official" jersey would not be.
Snopes allows that "bedbugs will not survive a hot tumble in the appliance." I opted not to read anything into that. But, I did recall a weird friend who had on occasion placed his wife's prized cat in the dryer. ("Just the short spin cycle," he hastened to explain after the divorce.)
Assuming nobody has adopted bedbugs as pets (an assumption nowadays you really shouldn't make) I decided to read further to try and resolve my own problems.
Snopes says, "they (bedbugs) won't survive PROVIDED the temperature in (the dryer's interior) reaches (and then doesn't go below) 113 degree farenheit.
They also tell us, "There is some dispute about the minimum temperature required to eradicate bedbugs; we've also seen it credibly listed as 120 degrees."
Finally, Snopes adds that the drying cycle favored for succesful eradication varies from source to source. (most commonly cited is from 20 to 25 minutes but other estimates range from as little as 5 minutes to as much as 45 minutes.)
I happen to own a time piece with stop watch capability. My problem is trying to get those little critters to hold on to a thermometer as they're spinning around.
After reading the rough draft of this blog to my wife, the RN, she asked, "and where are their rectums, anyway?"
Go Steelers!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
"MARTY THE METEOR"
It was in the early 70's . I was standing at the bar, foot resting on the rail, arguing with "Mumbles" McBride, the only other customer . The argument was over the names of the 1960 Pirates outfielders. Suddenly, mid-discussion , the body of the evasive bar owner Marty O'Toole came crashing through the ceiling.
We both instinctively reached to cover our drinks with the palm of our hands.
That was about as bad as we had ever seen Marty look; even those many times when we dragged his skinny ass up the hill in the winter to the ACC college parking lot following a Steeler's game at Three Rivers. It was also the first time Marty was at a loss for words.
Apparently Marty did not move to Vegas as most surmised. He would go there often . You might even say "in a drunken minute" - without baggage or warning.
He had been known to sneak out of his office in the back after polishing off a fifth or so of the good stuff, while awaiting the departure of a few remaining customers. When impatient he'd climb/fall into his car and slip out of the back lot. Occasionally, he'd think to call from the airport to get someone to lock up. Most times we reasoned it out on our own.
One of us would secure both doors, gather up the cash, fill out the deposit slips, and drop the bag in the overnight deposit on the way home. After a while, we determined within a few bucks how much cash the bar would need for change the next morning.
A few of us surmised he should have been home by now - after calling one of us to wire him cash. However, his unexpected appearance that night did not rule out the possibility to Mumbles and me that, with a display of incredible accuracy, he had jumped out of the plane on the return trip to Greater Pitt Airport.
Marty's bar - "The Joint" - was a popular port-of -call for guys on their way home who needed a stiff one between the trauma at work and the anticipated one at home; but often lingered. It was located in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh and was primarily a guys bar . This was as opposed to "The Plugged Nickel" out the road in Monroeville . "The Nickel" was a hideaway place where husbands went to meet other guys wives.
When Marty took off on a binge we all took turns running the bar while awaiting his return. It may have been the only time the customers got a good drink. Nobody ever tried to welch or complain about the substitute bartenders as long as we kept the place open, but, it had been five weeks now.
McBride looked at Marty - lying supine on the broken plaster -then at me - and proclaimed loudly: "Roman Mejias was never on that 1960 squad." He was wrong and I told him why as I removed Marty's right leg from the stool that separated Mumbles and me.
Marty proceeded to slide down the bar in silent acknowledgment of gravity's pull. I swear to this day I heard him say something before he hit the floor, and it wasn't, "I'll buy."
It's not that we were uncaring - just maybe a little drunk. OK, a lot drunk!
Other than dwelling on the 60 Pirates and criticizing Bradshaw, the blond bombshell and current quarterback ,we didn't have a lot of real important stuff to discuss back then. None of us knew enough about women to B.S. the rest of the guys.
Bradshaw was an easy target, particularly when he tried to throw across his body aiming for Lynn Swann in the end zone and was enjoined by a stadium full of people all yelling: "No! Terry - No-o-o-o!"
Occasionally a conversation would shift from sports to discussing the night that "Ike", the retired army colonel took a handful of us to the mens room with him. The object was to win his bet that he had "a third testicle". He did and it cost me twenty bucks - a lot of money back then.
Finally, "Fingers' Finnegan, a local cop came in for a boilermaker before or during his shift. He immediately noticed Marty's torso splayed out behind his favorite stool
Officer Finnegan had been known to employ the five finger discount with recovered valuables before being booted off the robbery squad and assigned to driving a squad car at night so as to protect Danny Donuts from enemies both foreign and domestic.
After Fingers called it in we had one less O'Toole in about 45 minutes. The investigating detectives took one look at Mumbles and me and wisely decided to defer questioning.
"Jiggs", the "bartender du jour" was nowhere to be seen when the cops arrived ; for reasons we discovered later.
Most of the customers had nicknames. Mine was "Crater Face" (or CF) due to an overzealous battle with acne in my youth.
"Jiggs" had been working the bar that night.. His claim to fame was he was the only non-white who came in there. We drafted him the first week Marty disappeared. He was an affable sort - grew up in the Hill District - moved to Lincoln Place in an attempt to become off-white - and probably wasn't overwhelmed by the sight of a dead body.
When Marty made his sudden appearance Jiggs cursed under his breath not only because Marty owed him money he knew he'd never collect. Marty had made one helluva mess of Jiggs' carefully arranged beef jerky display, taking the open container of pickled eggs with it when it flew across the back bar.
Mumbles and me sauntered out the rear door locking and shutting it behind us. Someone would have to come in and sweep up in the morning. It probably wouldn't be one of us.
More about "Marty The Meteor" later.
We both instinctively reached to cover our drinks with the palm of our hands.
That was about as bad as we had ever seen Marty look; even those many times when we dragged his skinny ass up the hill in the winter to the ACC college parking lot following a Steeler's game at Three Rivers. It was also the first time Marty was at a loss for words.
Apparently Marty did not move to Vegas as most surmised. He would go there often . You might even say "in a drunken minute" - without baggage or warning.
He had been known to sneak out of his office in the back after polishing off a fifth or so of the good stuff, while awaiting the departure of a few remaining customers. When impatient he'd climb/fall into his car and slip out of the back lot. Occasionally, he'd think to call from the airport to get someone to lock up. Most times we reasoned it out on our own.
One of us would secure both doors, gather up the cash, fill out the deposit slips, and drop the bag in the overnight deposit on the way home. After a while, we determined within a few bucks how much cash the bar would need for change the next morning.
A few of us surmised he should have been home by now - after calling one of us to wire him cash. However, his unexpected appearance that night did not rule out the possibility to Mumbles and me that, with a display of incredible accuracy, he had jumped out of the plane on the return trip to Greater Pitt Airport.
Marty's bar - "The Joint" - was a popular port-of -call for guys on their way home who needed a stiff one between the trauma at work and the anticipated one at home; but often lingered. It was located in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh and was primarily a guys bar . This was as opposed to "The Plugged Nickel" out the road in Monroeville . "The Nickel" was a hideaway place where husbands went to meet other guys wives.
When Marty took off on a binge we all took turns running the bar while awaiting his return. It may have been the only time the customers got a good drink. Nobody ever tried to welch or complain about the substitute bartenders as long as we kept the place open, but, it had been five weeks now.
McBride looked at Marty - lying supine on the broken plaster -then at me - and proclaimed loudly: "Roman Mejias was never on that 1960 squad." He was wrong and I told him why as I removed Marty's right leg from the stool that separated Mumbles and me.
Marty proceeded to slide down the bar in silent acknowledgment of gravity's pull. I swear to this day I heard him say something before he hit the floor, and it wasn't, "I'll buy."
It's not that we were uncaring - just maybe a little drunk. OK, a lot drunk!
Other than dwelling on the 60 Pirates and criticizing Bradshaw, the blond bombshell and current quarterback ,we didn't have a lot of real important stuff to discuss back then. None of us knew enough about women to B.S. the rest of the guys.
Bradshaw was an easy target, particularly when he tried to throw across his body aiming for Lynn Swann in the end zone and was enjoined by a stadium full of people all yelling: "No! Terry - No-o-o-o!"
Occasionally a conversation would shift from sports to discussing the night that "Ike", the retired army colonel took a handful of us to the mens room with him. The object was to win his bet that he had "a third testicle". He did and it cost me twenty bucks - a lot of money back then.
Finally, "Fingers' Finnegan, a local cop came in for a boilermaker before or during his shift. He immediately noticed Marty's torso splayed out behind his favorite stool
Officer Finnegan had been known to employ the five finger discount with recovered valuables before being booted off the robbery squad and assigned to driving a squad car at night so as to protect Danny Donuts from enemies both foreign and domestic.
After Fingers called it in we had one less O'Toole in about 45 minutes. The investigating detectives took one look at Mumbles and me and wisely decided to defer questioning.
"Jiggs", the "bartender du jour" was nowhere to be seen when the cops arrived ; for reasons we discovered later.
Most of the customers had nicknames. Mine was "Crater Face" (or CF) due to an overzealous battle with acne in my youth.
"Jiggs" had been working the bar that night.. His claim to fame was he was the only non-white who came in there. We drafted him the first week Marty disappeared. He was an affable sort - grew up in the Hill District - moved to Lincoln Place in an attempt to become off-white - and probably wasn't overwhelmed by the sight of a dead body.
When Marty made his sudden appearance Jiggs cursed under his breath not only because Marty owed him money he knew he'd never collect. Marty had made one helluva mess of Jiggs' carefully arranged beef jerky display, taking the open container of pickled eggs with it when it flew across the back bar.
Mumbles and me sauntered out the rear door locking and shutting it behind us. Someone would have to come in and sweep up in the morning. It probably wouldn't be one of us.
More about "Marty The Meteor" later.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Coaching
Quite often you hear people say, "Coaches/managers get too much credit when the team wins and too much blame when their team loses."
While their job security is a little more iffy, than say - weather prognosticators - how to measure a manager or coach's success overall is difficult to define. Should a manager of the Pirates be measured by the same stick as whomever happens to be coaching the Yankees?
To be honest, I'm not sure which one of the two I'd rather be. If you lose (not 300 games in 3 years, mind you) with what is obviously not a good team, should you be fired? If you lose with the Yankee's talent (and overlook the teams injuries) are you a GM, within normal intelligence range, if you fire the guy?
Is there more longevity in being a coach in an NFL division that has lousy teams versus one who is coaching a team in a really strong division?
The Pirates got a manager from the Dodgers who spent a lot of time in the media's doghouse, was fired, and then went on to a fair amount of success with another team.
What makes a great coach/manager? The GM and/or the owner? The players? A little compassion from the media? The fans? The team's record? The number of times he, as the baseball manager, gets thrown out of a game each season? The ERA of his pitchers? The QB rating of his star?
Tough to tell. All could be factors? Or, none. If you were the Steelers head coach chances are you had a pretty long leash. You could have ended up coaching for Al Davis.
Traditionally, we base a coache/manager's success on the number of games their team wins. But, if it's a double-A team you've managed your team to the championship and been awarded Manager of the year, who knows?
Just thinking. What if Paterno does retire - maybe even before win # 400 - and the team gets a new guy who leads them through three straight losing season? Was Paterno a bad coach in 2010 having lost several great players to the NFL and even more to the injury list? Anybody remember his record in the years after the Penn State exec's wanted to fire him?
What if the Pirates hire that "fire and guts" type manager the media and the fan seems to be demanding and he falls on his face - losing 106 games? Was he a bad manager?
Again, this blogger asks? What is it that made the great coaches/managers great - let alone successful?
The answer is - "we don't know." Should they all be cut from the Phil Jackson mold? Vince Lombardi style ? Connie Mack longevity? Casey Stengel flexibility?
Is there any fan reading this blog who cannot recall Stengel asking of his new team, The New York Mets, "Does anybody here know how to play this game?"
And is there anybody who remembers Warren Spahn's comment about Stengel?:"I'm probably the only guy who worked for Stengel before and after he was a genius."
Simply put, it's extremely stupid to continue to try to make an absolutely objective argument about a coach when almost all of the criteria is subjective.
Still, we fans - and many in the media - are sure we know. Why the fans? Generally because we're stupid. Why the media? Because they have to come up with a broadcast, a column, a blog, etc on a regular basis and their livelihood is based upon the amount of controversy they can engender in their role as self-appointed soothsayer.
Due to my own screwed-up way of looking at things, I lean toward the psychological motivation techniques employed by several successful coaches.
Give me a Jackson, Lombardi, Leyland, Wooden, Madden or Fritz Perls.
Don't remember Perl's technique? Picture a DI on Parris Island.
As Pennsylvania sports coaches/managers continue to wind their way down their strange career path, it will be interesting to see who deserved to be fired, who didn't - and perhaps discovering why it didn't make a heckuva lot of difference to the teams success or failure.
I prefer to equate successful coaching with a concept know as "Mastery". It may be best illustrated with a quote from "William James: "Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second."
One of Mastery's strongest examples is Gestalt Psychiatrist Fritz Perls who said: " I am not in this world to live up to other people's expectations, nor do I feel the world must live up to mine."
Now, that's a guy I might have hired to coach or manage my team.
While their job security is a little more iffy, than say - weather prognosticators - how to measure a manager or coach's success overall is difficult to define. Should a manager of the Pirates be measured by the same stick as whomever happens to be coaching the Yankees?
To be honest, I'm not sure which one of the two I'd rather be. If you lose (not 300 games in 3 years, mind you) with what is obviously not a good team, should you be fired? If you lose with the Yankee's talent (and overlook the teams injuries) are you a GM, within normal intelligence range, if you fire the guy?
Is there more longevity in being a coach in an NFL division that has lousy teams versus one who is coaching a team in a really strong division?
The Pirates got a manager from the Dodgers who spent a lot of time in the media's doghouse, was fired, and then went on to a fair amount of success with another team.
What makes a great coach/manager? The GM and/or the owner? The players? A little compassion from the media? The fans? The team's record? The number of times he, as the baseball manager, gets thrown out of a game each season? The ERA of his pitchers? The QB rating of his star?
Tough to tell. All could be factors? Or, none. If you were the Steelers head coach chances are you had a pretty long leash. You could have ended up coaching for Al Davis.
Traditionally, we base a coache/manager's success on the number of games their team wins. But, if it's a double-A team you've managed your team to the championship and been awarded Manager of the year, who knows?
Just thinking. What if Paterno does retire - maybe even before win # 400 - and the team gets a new guy who leads them through three straight losing season? Was Paterno a bad coach in 2010 having lost several great players to the NFL and even more to the injury list? Anybody remember his record in the years after the Penn State exec's wanted to fire him?
What if the Pirates hire that "fire and guts" type manager the media and the fan seems to be demanding and he falls on his face - losing 106 games? Was he a bad manager?
Again, this blogger asks? What is it that made the great coaches/managers great - let alone successful?
The answer is - "we don't know." Should they all be cut from the Phil Jackson mold? Vince Lombardi style ? Connie Mack longevity? Casey Stengel flexibility?
Is there any fan reading this blog who cannot recall Stengel asking of his new team, The New York Mets, "Does anybody here know how to play this game?"
And is there anybody who remembers Warren Spahn's comment about Stengel?:"I'm probably the only guy who worked for Stengel before and after he was a genius."
Simply put, it's extremely stupid to continue to try to make an absolutely objective argument about a coach when almost all of the criteria is subjective.
Still, we fans - and many in the media - are sure we know. Why the fans? Generally because we're stupid. Why the media? Because they have to come up with a broadcast, a column, a blog, etc on a regular basis and their livelihood is based upon the amount of controversy they can engender in their role as self-appointed soothsayer.
Due to my own screwed-up way of looking at things, I lean toward the psychological motivation techniques employed by several successful coaches.
Give me a Jackson, Lombardi, Leyland, Wooden, Madden or Fritz Perls.
Don't remember Perl's technique? Picture a DI on Parris Island.
As Pennsylvania sports coaches/managers continue to wind their way down their strange career path, it will be interesting to see who deserved to be fired, who didn't - and perhaps discovering why it didn't make a heckuva lot of difference to the teams success or failure.
I prefer to equate successful coaching with a concept know as "Mastery". It may be best illustrated with a quote from "William James: "Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second."
One of Mastery's strongest examples is Gestalt Psychiatrist Fritz Perls who said: " I am not in this world to live up to other people's expectations, nor do I feel the world must live up to mine."
Now, that's a guy I might have hired to coach or manage my team.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Sportin Stuff
As a kid, I was riding in the car with my Dad one Sunday. We had just left the dealership where he was their Johnny Inkslinger. Dad was probably working on either the 2nd or 3rd set of books he kept for the owners. I was drinking free ice cold bottled Coke and polishing off my homework.
Somewhere up toward the end of Lynn Avenue in Turtle Creek, Dad pointed to our left and said, " that's one of the biggest 'sportin houses' in the county." I looked in vain for a plate glass window and a display case filled with trophies or sporting equipment.
I wasn't always the sharpest knife in the drawer back then. Not sure I got a whole lot brighter as I aged.
Thus, what I truly know about sports in general could probably be placed in one of my grandma's thimbles.
Fortunately, my lack of knowledge in regard to a particular subject has never been an obstacle to my discussing it - often. Some might even go so far to suggest, "he does not have an unspoken word in his head."
We have a grandson, Troy, named after another famous Troy. On Friday, our Troy was operated on for football injuries he sustained. They included a bilateral tear to his miniscus and other serious damages.
No, he's not the starting quarterback. He's just an all round great kid who loves the sport and has inherited some of his parents athletic talent. His injuries occurred during a scrimmage .The powers that be sort of "poo-pooed" his complaints.. They allowed him to continue to play. Things got worse days later and he finally received an MRI that revealed the seriousness of his injuries.
He had the operations early Friday and was sent home later that same evening. They call it a drive-thru. I favor the term "drive - by." The bloody tube was removed early Saturday morning at a local Sports facility - "not a sportin house."
It has been both fascinating and gratifying to hear all the publicity regarding the NFL's drive to reduce the number of concussions and other serious injuries these oversized players are receiving.
There have been rules changes - equipment modifications - and numerous rebuttals issued to the non-quarterback players who, like Baltimore's Ray Lewis, insist the latter group should be wearing a dress - or at least a classy looking tutu.
Football is a rough game. One need look no further than the injury list for Joe Paterno's Penn State roster for confirmation. Yet, college players are warned, "If you think college ball was rough you won't believe Pro ball."
The NFL likes to introduce "yesterday's heros" before their NFL's home team's game. It's usually in conjunction with a particular team anniversary that some publicity flak came up with to sell more pierogies.
These former players no longer run out of the tunnel. Many saunter, but, a growing number rely on the assistance of another retiree who probably got out of the game early.
If things continue, more and more of them won't leave that tunnel without assistance.
One wonders if - down the road - most of these guys likely will drive their own "Hover-Round's" onto the field, This is a three to four wheeled popular free wheeling conveyance for handicapped folks residing in assisted living homes, or houses with wide doorways.
The last group of those former jocks coming onto the field will probably be the ones with multiple concussions. It won't matter much how they arrive at the 50 yard line. Sad to say but, they probably won't know where they are anyway.
Injuries are a serious problem - no doubt. But, the NFL owners - in their infinite wisdom - and with their commish leading the parade - have alledgedly already approved a change to a 18 game schedule next year - up from their present 16. So, the logic is to spread the injuries over a longer number of weeks?
As reported here earlier. The owners claim to be losing money "big time". Unfortunately they made those claims just before studies were released that showed a dramatic increase in the number of NFL tickets sold in 2010 versus 2009.
Timing is everything. The union is decertifying. Expect a lockout.
One positive. A lockout should cut down on the injury statistics.
The owners have a "sportin house" all their own - unfortunately - and with the same result as the one Dad was attempting to point out.
Somewhere up toward the end of Lynn Avenue in Turtle Creek, Dad pointed to our left and said, " that's one of the biggest 'sportin houses' in the county." I looked in vain for a plate glass window and a display case filled with trophies or sporting equipment.
I wasn't always the sharpest knife in the drawer back then. Not sure I got a whole lot brighter as I aged.
Thus, what I truly know about sports in general could probably be placed in one of my grandma's thimbles.
Fortunately, my lack of knowledge in regard to a particular subject has never been an obstacle to my discussing it - often. Some might even go so far to suggest, "he does not have an unspoken word in his head."
We have a grandson, Troy, named after another famous Troy. On Friday, our Troy was operated on for football injuries he sustained. They included a bilateral tear to his miniscus and other serious damages.
No, he's not the starting quarterback. He's just an all round great kid who loves the sport and has inherited some of his parents athletic talent. His injuries occurred during a scrimmage .The powers that be sort of "poo-pooed" his complaints.. They allowed him to continue to play. Things got worse days later and he finally received an MRI that revealed the seriousness of his injuries.
He had the operations early Friday and was sent home later that same evening. They call it a drive-thru. I favor the term "drive - by." The bloody tube was removed early Saturday morning at a local Sports facility - "not a sportin house."
It has been both fascinating and gratifying to hear all the publicity regarding the NFL's drive to reduce the number of concussions and other serious injuries these oversized players are receiving.
There have been rules changes - equipment modifications - and numerous rebuttals issued to the non-quarterback players who, like Baltimore's Ray Lewis, insist the latter group should be wearing a dress - or at least a classy looking tutu.
Football is a rough game. One need look no further than the injury list for Joe Paterno's Penn State roster for confirmation. Yet, college players are warned, "If you think college ball was rough you won't believe Pro ball."
The NFL likes to introduce "yesterday's heros" before their NFL's home team's game. It's usually in conjunction with a particular team anniversary that some publicity flak came up with to sell more pierogies.
These former players no longer run out of the tunnel. Many saunter, but, a growing number rely on the assistance of another retiree who probably got out of the game early.
If things continue, more and more of them won't leave that tunnel without assistance.
One wonders if - down the road - most of these guys likely will drive their own "Hover-Round's" onto the field, This is a three to four wheeled popular free wheeling conveyance for handicapped folks residing in assisted living homes, or houses with wide doorways.
The last group of those former jocks coming onto the field will probably be the ones with multiple concussions. It won't matter much how they arrive at the 50 yard line. Sad to say but, they probably won't know where they are anyway.
Injuries are a serious problem - no doubt. But, the NFL owners - in their infinite wisdom - and with their commish leading the parade - have alledgedly already approved a change to a 18 game schedule next year - up from their present 16. So, the logic is to spread the injuries over a longer number of weeks?
As reported here earlier. The owners claim to be losing money "big time". Unfortunately they made those claims just before studies were released that showed a dramatic increase in the number of NFL tickets sold in 2010 versus 2009.
Timing is everything. The union is decertifying. Expect a lockout.
One positive. A lockout should cut down on the injury statistics.
The owners have a "sportin house" all their own - unfortunately - and with the same result as the one Dad was attempting to point out.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
FIRING & HIRING (revised)
I've been hired. I've been fired. Along the way I learned how to manage people.
About 25 years ago I was promoted to take over an insurance claims office in rural Central Pennsylvania,. My predecessor was an experienced insurance superintendent who was highly respected for his technical knowedge. He had supervised the same employees for several years.
His critics felt he had dragged his feet in not attempting to bring the office and it's 14 office staff members into the "20th" century, allowed the claims/agency relationship to dwindle, failed to delegate as much as was desired.
Most of the people from my predecessors office had kind words for him as they attempted to discern my relationship with the man. He had his share of dissenters like all management people.
Now, it was my job to make the necessary changes assigned to me. My forte was said to be my ability to improve customer service.
Not long after arriving, I reviewed vacation schedules and discovered the ex-boss had authorized vacation time for all of the male employees during Pennsylvania's two week doe hunting season.
I was livid and quickly summoned the entire staff to meet me outside of my office. I related what I had discovered and stated simply, "This is not going to happen."
I recognized from their instant reaction that they disagreed. The good employees exchanged glances with the usual dissenters and I could see the beginning of a coalition that would't bode well for any of us. My first crisis.
I was taken back."They loved me in Western Pennsylvania", I thought to myself , conveniently erasing the defined line between fact and fiction.
With mixed feelings of wonderment and fear, I initiated my Sergeant Schultz (serial #23781) retreat, clicked my heels, did an abrupt about face and headed into my more secure office.
After closing the door, leaving the office folks to strategize, I sat down facing the tacky knotty pine panelling. I began to recreate in my mind Gretta Garbo's performance of the death scene from Camille.
Someone had the audacity to interrupt my revival efforts by foolishly knocking on my door. A combination claim rep./estimator entered my office before my angry response had time to reach him.
Did he not know he had interrupted my decision making here on my personal Isle of Elba?
"What do you want?
He calmly took a chair without replying. After a long pause, he asked, "Why are you so upset?"
"Upset? Upset? I countered. (I was always the master of small repartee) "Without estimators to look at the damaged cars and trucks and claim rep's to write claim drafts to pay the claims, how the Hell do you think we can claim to be providing service to our customers?"
He smiled and tilted his head before responding, "Barry, I gather you're not a hunter". In exasperation, I shouted, "That has nothing to do with it. They didn't send me up here to hunt."
He smiled again at his new and clearly exasperated boss, admittedly more of a city mouse than a country one, and then responded, "Maybe"
I immediately thought of the touching scene between Dorothy & Toto upon arriving in Oz and realizing they were no longer safe in Kansas. The reality was starting to settle in.
He continued: "Deer season in north central Pennsylvania is a sanctioned holiday for almost all the men and more than a few women who live and work there.
Banks reduce their hours, shine the brass, and dust the money. Auto damage repair shops close. Drug stores turn out the lights and provide emergency numbers for prescriptions . Bars shutter to take inventory, wash the floor for the first time since last deer season and clean the taps.
Most folks here - including vehicle owners, laborers, management, insureds, judges, teachers, lawyers, pharmacists, and claimants head off to secluded hunting camps in beer laden pickups to search for Bambi.
The last thing on their mind is whether or not we're being Good Neighbors. Given this information, how in the name of God do you think we're going to be able to find anybody to talk to - let alone service their claim?"
Before I could reply he smiled that crooked smile again, shook his head and wiped back the few remaining wisps of hair on his forehead. Then he closed the door to little Elba, leaving the silence behind him.
As The Music Man's Robert Preston, portraying "Professor "Harold Hill, once proclaimed: "You have to know the territory."
I'm not sure that this is something the current Pittsburgh Pirates management and owner have learned yet. Hopefully, the new manager they hire will have that requisite savvy - and most importantly - be allowed to utilize it.
I discovered that "Firing" is not an easy process for either participant. "Hiring" the right replacement can also be pretty difficult, if "they don't know the territory". The last Pirate manager obviously did not.
Sitting in the dugout while your players are out on the field arguing a call with the umpire is never going to go over well in this great town founded on hard negotiations and a fighting spirit.
About 25 years ago I was promoted to take over an insurance claims office in rural Central Pennsylvania,. My predecessor was an experienced insurance superintendent who was highly respected for his technical knowedge. He had supervised the same employees for several years.
His critics felt he had dragged his feet in not attempting to bring the office and it's 14 office staff members into the "20th" century, allowed the claims/agency relationship to dwindle, failed to delegate as much as was desired.
Most of the people from my predecessors office had kind words for him as they attempted to discern my relationship with the man. He had his share of dissenters like all management people.
Now, it was my job to make the necessary changes assigned to me. My forte was said to be my ability to improve customer service.
Not long after arriving, I reviewed vacation schedules and discovered the ex-boss had authorized vacation time for all of the male employees during Pennsylvania's two week doe hunting season.
I was livid and quickly summoned the entire staff to meet me outside of my office. I related what I had discovered and stated simply, "This is not going to happen."
I recognized from their instant reaction that they disagreed. The good employees exchanged glances with the usual dissenters and I could see the beginning of a coalition that would't bode well for any of us. My first crisis.
I was taken back."They loved me in Western Pennsylvania", I thought to myself , conveniently erasing the defined line between fact and fiction.
With mixed feelings of wonderment and fear, I initiated my Sergeant Schultz (serial #23781) retreat, clicked my heels, did an abrupt about face and headed into my more secure office.
After closing the door, leaving the office folks to strategize, I sat down facing the tacky knotty pine panelling. I began to recreate in my mind Gretta Garbo's performance of the death scene from Camille.
Someone had the audacity to interrupt my revival efforts by foolishly knocking on my door. A combination claim rep./estimator entered my office before my angry response had time to reach him.
Did he not know he had interrupted my decision making here on my personal Isle of Elba?
"What do you want?
He calmly took a chair without replying. After a long pause, he asked, "Why are you so upset?"
"Upset? Upset? I countered. (I was always the master of small repartee) "Without estimators to look at the damaged cars and trucks and claim rep's to write claim drafts to pay the claims, how the Hell do you think we can claim to be providing service to our customers?"
He smiled and tilted his head before responding, "Barry, I gather you're not a hunter". In exasperation, I shouted, "That has nothing to do with it. They didn't send me up here to hunt."
He smiled again at his new and clearly exasperated boss, admittedly more of a city mouse than a country one, and then responded, "Maybe"
I immediately thought of the touching scene between Dorothy & Toto upon arriving in Oz and realizing they were no longer safe in Kansas. The reality was starting to settle in.
He continued: "Deer season in north central Pennsylvania is a sanctioned holiday for almost all the men and more than a few women who live and work there.
Banks reduce their hours, shine the brass, and dust the money. Auto damage repair shops close. Drug stores turn out the lights and provide emergency numbers for prescriptions . Bars shutter to take inventory, wash the floor for the first time since last deer season and clean the taps.
Most folks here - including vehicle owners, laborers, management, insureds, judges, teachers, lawyers, pharmacists, and claimants head off to secluded hunting camps in beer laden pickups to search for Bambi.
The last thing on their mind is whether or not we're being Good Neighbors. Given this information, how in the name of God do you think we're going to be able to find anybody to talk to - let alone service their claim?"
Before I could reply he smiled that crooked smile again, shook his head and wiped back the few remaining wisps of hair on his forehead. Then he closed the door to little Elba, leaving the silence behind him.
As The Music Man's Robert Preston, portraying "Professor "Harold Hill, once proclaimed: "You have to know the territory."
I'm not sure that this is something the current Pittsburgh Pirates management and owner have learned yet. Hopefully, the new manager they hire will have that requisite savvy - and most importantly - be allowed to utilize it.
I discovered that "Firing" is not an easy process for either participant. "Hiring" the right replacement can also be pretty difficult, if "they don't know the territory". The last Pirate manager obviously did not.
Sitting in the dugout while your players are out on the field arguing a call with the umpire is never going to go over well in this great town founded on hard negotiations and a fighting spirit.
Monday, October 4, 2010
SHAKESFUNK
I. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST:
Britain's Robert Edwards won the 2010 Nobel Prize in medicine for developing in-vitro fertilization.
"Edwards, an 85-year-old professor emeritus - - -developed this technique - in which egg cells are removed from a woman, fertilized outside her body and then implanted into the womb - together with British gynecologist surgeon Patrick Steptoe."
One assumes inserting the fertilized egg cells was a piece of cake. Inserting Steptoe, maybe less so.
-------------------------
II. COMEDY OF ERRORS:
Pittsburgh Pirates ended their 2010 season with a record 18th consecutive season of losing.
---------------------------------------
III: KING JOHN
Pirate Manager John Russell - who has lost 299 games in a three year tour as Manager is rumored to be fired today.
-------------------------
IV MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING:
(Please see II & III above)
------------------------
IV: MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM:
Pirates owner Bob Nutting, when interviewed about the Pirates leadership in early 2010, claimed it to be: 'the best in all of baseball - maybe the best in all of sports."
----------------------------------
V: ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL:
Nutting, during an early 2010 interview response when asked about 2009's record: "we're not going to accept an inferior performance' (and he pledged accountability).
In 2010 Pirates lost 100 games or more for the first time since 2001 - 6 more than 2009 - 10
more than 2008.
----------------
VI: AS YOU LIKE IT:
Pirates won/loss record last three years and resulting draft order.
2008 - 67-95
2009 - 63-99
2010 - 57-105
Pirates (won) 2nd overall draft choice in 2008 & 2009 and 1st in 2010.
------------------------------------
VII: MEASURE FOR MEASURE
Question for you math geeks: using the past three years for trending, how long will it take the Pirates to lose all 162 games?
-------------------------
VII: KING LEAR:
(Dear readers - please insert your own choice.)
------------------------
VIII: WINTERS TALE:
Pirate pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in February, 2011
HAVE A GREAT DAY
Britain's Robert Edwards won the 2010 Nobel Prize in medicine for developing in-vitro fertilization.
"Edwards, an 85-year-old professor emeritus - - -developed this technique - in which egg cells are removed from a woman, fertilized outside her body and then implanted into the womb - together with British gynecologist surgeon Patrick Steptoe."
One assumes inserting the fertilized egg cells was a piece of cake. Inserting Steptoe, maybe less so.
-------------------------
II. COMEDY OF ERRORS:
Pittsburgh Pirates ended their 2010 season with a record 18th consecutive season of losing.
---------------------------------------
III: KING JOHN
Pirate Manager John Russell - who has lost 299 games in a three year tour as Manager is rumored to be fired today.
-------------------------
IV MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING:
(Please see II & III above)
------------------------
IV: MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM:
Pirates owner Bob Nutting, when interviewed about the Pirates leadership in early 2010, claimed it to be: 'the best in all of baseball - maybe the best in all of sports."
----------------------------------
V: ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL:
Nutting, during an early 2010 interview response when asked about 2009's record: "we're not going to accept an inferior performance' (and he pledged accountability).
In 2010 Pirates lost 100 games or more for the first time since 2001 - 6 more than 2009 - 10
more than 2008.
----------------
VI: AS YOU LIKE IT:
Pirates won/loss record last three years and resulting draft order.
2008 - 67-95
2009 - 63-99
2010 - 57-105
Pirates (won) 2nd overall draft choice in 2008 & 2009 and 1st in 2010.
------------------------------------
VII: MEASURE FOR MEASURE
Question for you math geeks: using the past three years for trending, how long will it take the Pirates to lose all 162 games?
-------------------------
VII: KING LEAR:
(Dear readers - please insert your own choice.)
------------------------
VIII: WINTERS TALE:
Pirate pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in February, 2011
HAVE A GREAT DAY
Saturday, October 2, 2010
BIBLICALLY SPEAKING?
I was once a member of a small group that was trying to start a church. We had left an established church and possibly thought we could do it better. We were wrong.
Four of us split the responsibility of delivering the Sunday morning message. The first one I presented was entitled, "Does God Have A Sense Of Humor?" I used a Platypus picture to support my opinion.
The Bible is the security of many practicing Christians. It is so admired that the use of the term "the Bible of this or that" is intended to promote a feeling of authenticity as to whatever subject is being discussed.
Not all folks agree the Bible is God's Word, and thus indisputable; a premise which shall not be debated here. However, I will admit an affinity for New Testament churches
An E-mail, which appears to be an adaptation of another I have seen, was received from Benn & Doris Issacson, good people and the Jewish branch of our conjoined family.
It points out the hazards of taking a Chinese Menu approach to the Bible, ie, "2 from column A and 3 from column B", in order to support a strict interpretation. The E-mail sources used are the second and third chapters of The Old Testment.
The impetus for the E-mail was one of the radio shows of Dr. Laura Schlessinger, who appears to be having the same kind of public relations year as Lindsay Lohan.
Dr. Laura allegedly contended that as an Orthodox Jew, "homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstance."
Here, with only slight editing, is the E-mail:
"Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. . . . I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can . When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them (of) Leviticus 18:22. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15:19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35.2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abdomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there degrees of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading classes. Does my vision have to be 20-20? Is there any wiggle room here?
8.. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though that is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19-27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11. 6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? (Probably pre-Wilson Sporting Goods. ed.)
10. My Uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19-19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot.
Is it really necessary we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24: 10-16? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20.14)
I know you hve studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's Word is eternal and unchanging."
(signed- "Your adoring fan" - name withheld)
Blasphemy? You decide. Living in a community mostly comprised of snowbirds, it would be a damn shame if we couldn't own a Canadian.
Four of us split the responsibility of delivering the Sunday morning message. The first one I presented was entitled, "Does God Have A Sense Of Humor?" I used a Platypus picture to support my opinion.
The Bible is the security of many practicing Christians. It is so admired that the use of the term "the Bible of this or that" is intended to promote a feeling of authenticity as to whatever subject is being discussed.
Not all folks agree the Bible is God's Word, and thus indisputable; a premise which shall not be debated here. However, I will admit an affinity for New Testament churches
An E-mail, which appears to be an adaptation of another I have seen, was received from Benn & Doris Issacson, good people and the Jewish branch of our conjoined family.
It points out the hazards of taking a Chinese Menu approach to the Bible, ie, "2 from column A and 3 from column B", in order to support a strict interpretation. The E-mail sources used are the second and third chapters of The Old Testment.
The impetus for the E-mail was one of the radio shows of Dr. Laura Schlessinger, who appears to be having the same kind of public relations year as Lindsay Lohan.
Dr. Laura allegedly contended that as an Orthodox Jew, "homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstance."
Here, with only slight editing, is the E-mail:
"Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. . . . I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can . When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them (of) Leviticus 18:22. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15:19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35.2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abdomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there degrees of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading classes. Does my vision have to be 20-20? Is there any wiggle room here?
8.. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though that is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19-27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11. 6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? (Probably pre-Wilson Sporting Goods. ed.)
10. My Uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19-19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot.
Is it really necessary we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24: 10-16? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20.14)
I know you hve studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's Word is eternal and unchanging."
(signed- "Your adoring fan" - name withheld)
Blasphemy? You decide. Living in a community mostly comprised of snowbirds, it would be a damn shame if we couldn't own a Canadian.
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