Writer. Communications assistant. Coffee drinker.

Author: Kat (Page 36 of 88)

“The Hackneyed Line of Dreams Coming True.”

I understand what you are trying to do, American Idol. You’re trying to do what anything on the edge of being irrelevant tries to do when they see the black hole coming – throw all the tricks to keep oblivion at bay.

Not that I ever watched American Idol. I don’t think I’ve watched a single episode in it’s enitirity. I’ve stayed away from America’s Got Talent, dropped So You Think You Can Dance after two seasons (they only had me because of my years at the little dance school on the corner), and a few days ago, only made it five minutes into Live to Dance without turning back to hockey.

That withstanding, I was getting dressed for work one recent morning when another American Idol commercial came on, the topic of which was along the hackneyed line of dreams coming true.

But wait. Who said singers are the only people with dreams of something more? Where did it become that singers, dancers, fashion designers, cooks and hair stylists were the only ones that had dreams that deserved fulfilling?

What about the millions of use who are tone deaf, have bum knees, can’t sew, can’t make anything involving something as fancy as to include cream freche, and would probably nip an ear if we tried to cut someone’s hair? Do we not have dreams that deserve fulfilling?

Now I’m not saying that we need an America’s Next Top Accountant, because that, along with many other things, would be bad TV. And I’m not saying everyone’s dreams can and should be fulfilled. No matter the number of self-help books we buy, inspirational Twitter accounts we  follow, and kick-in-the-seat quote of the day calendars we keep on our desk, not everyone will find their dreams fulfilled.

I don’t think I’m saying anything but gosh, doesn’t it sometimes seem like singers are the only people that can be plucked from obscurity, put on television, and made famous?

NHL Guardian Project Update

Photo: Guardian Project/Rocket XL

Remember two weeks ago when I spoke about the NHL Guardian Project -“How To Get My Little Brother to Watch Hockey“? The unveiling of the project’s superheroes is ongoing via Facebook through a voting process. Each vote is entered into a drawing to win a Limited Edition Guardian Project Graphic Novel.

I know the project has come under some fire from established hockey fans, but no matter your likes or dislikes of the project, one has to hand it to the NHL for exploring an collaboration that hasn’t been tried before. If it converts an audience previously untouched by hockey, then the comic book – sport meld will be worth it. For a sport close to reclaiming a spot in the national consciousness, the uncharted territory may be worth it.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by a PR team related to The Guardian Project, Rocket XL.

4 For 29: Splish Splash

To the surprise of many bartenders and my own mother, I will turn 29 years old in a week from Wednesday. This is the last birthday where I will actually acknowledge the age I am turning. After this year, I will officially turn “grumble.”

Since my birthday is so close to New Year’s, I tend not to make New Year’s resolutions, but goals tied to my birthday. I’ve settled on four goals for my 29th year, and since this year’s are actually interesting, and things I need my readers to assist with, I thought I might share them with you.

So here is the first of my 4 For 29.

The Seabreeze water slides. (Photo: Seabreeze)

1.) Learn How To Swim

When I was 10, my mother presented me with a choice to continue taking dance classes or take swimming lessons at the East High School pool. My parents couldn’t afford both, so I had to choose between the two.

I remember my mother sitting with me at our tiny kitchen table with the two typewritten registration forms in front of us. Our faux-maple round table was the place where all important family conversations took place, from “Why did the principal call me and say you refused to go to music class?” in first grade, to “Your mom and I can’t contribute any money to college,” twelve years later. Obviously, on the scale of conversations the table had seen, this was on the mild end.

“It’s important to learn how to swim,” explained my mother (who has made it a career to reason with elementary schoolers about their lunch choices, and for that, she’s deserves more shots than I could ever buy her.) “But you are a very good dancer, and I know you like that.” Continue reading

Bill Belichick Made The 2011 Buffalo Bills Calendar

This morning, my husband took his annual mission to the mall’s calendar kiosk to pick up his “Star Trek: Ships of the Line” calendar for 50% off. While there, he found a Buffalo Bills calendar located in the depths of the “random team” pile, left lonely with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Panthers and Toronto Raptors calendars.

“Look what I found,” he said eagerly, handing me the calendar.

“The Buffalo Bills, a year in futility,” I smirked. “Sure, let’s get it.”

I didn’t look closely at the calendar until I got back to our apartment. I hold onto my mother’s old superstition that you are not to open a calendar until New Year’s Day, so I wasn’t about to tear off the plastic. Instead, I took a more careful look at the back, which previews every month’s cover athlete.

Bills calendar 2

Hey, it’s Marshawn Lynch! And Bill Belichick’s favorite, Josh Reed! (In case you missed it, check out that link for Belichick’s Reed gaffe from last week.) There’s Shawn Nelson and Roscoe Parrish! Continue reading

Terriers in Pro Hockey Update – December 28, 2010

It’s winter break – thus I have nothing else to do but write and catch up on my Google Reader and follow Twitter all day. Your benefit? Tons of updates about former Terriers around professional hockey.

Gilroy celebrates a two goal game on Monday night.

Gilroy celebrates his two goal game on Monday night. (Photo: NHL.com)

– By now you’re read up on Matt Gilroy’s two goal game for the New York Rangers against the New York Islanders on Monday night. NHL.com has a well-written write-up of the 7-2 Rangers win. Gilroy had been very quiet this season, having only played 22 games and spending a tad too much time as a healthy scratch.

Time in the press box seemingly has motivated Gilroy, who is making the most of his recent ice time. Says Kukla’s Korner’s Patrick Hoffman:

“In the last week or so, there has been a noticeable difference in New York Rangers’ defenseman Matt Gilroy’s game.

Gilroy has appeared to be more confident, poised, willing to jump into the play, make smart plays in the defensive zone and more importantly, a steady presence on the club’s blue line.”

As much as we would all love to see Gilroy repeat his two-goal game, the odds are against him. Reported the Elias Sports Bureau in its daily ESPN.com “Elias Says” piece:

“It was the first multiple-goal game of the season by a Rangers D-man, and if recent history is any indication it could be the last. The Rangers had exactly one multi-goal game by a defenseman in each of the past three seasons: by Michal Rozsival in both 2007-08 and 2008-09, and Daniel Girardi in 2009-10.”

– One of Gilroy’s 2009 teammates, Chris Higgins, started the season with Ritten of the Italian Series A pro hockey league, but is no longer on the active roster. He last played on December 11th in a 6-2 loss against Val Pusteria, and had two shots and no points on the night. On December 7th, Higgins had his own 2 goal game in a 6-5 win over Asiago (yes, like the cheese.)

Why Higgins is off the roster is a tad unclear. From my bad translation of German, here’s what Ritten’s website had to say about Higgins’ departure:

“Where’s Chris Higgins will end the season is still unclear. This player clearly has a great technique and great talent: though in the eyes of Rittner he is not yet mature enough to play in the Italian hockey league.”

Ritten only has 13 wins on the season, and they seemed to take their December 11th loss hard. Higgins finished his time in Ritten with 20 points (9 goals, 11 assists.)

– The Netherlands has a goal of fielding a men’s ice hockey team in the 2018 Winter Olympics. To achieve that goal, the Dutch Olympic Committee has created an elite hockey training center in Eindhoven, modeled after the US National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The newly opened Ice Hockey Field Lab and High Tech Center at Eindhoven Ice Arena includes several cameras and video rooms to better break down plays and technique with the Netherlands’ top youth hockey players.

The IIHF was on hand for the opening of the center, which featured remarks from Gilroy and Higgins’ fellow 2009 graduate, Jason Lawrence. The alum of the USA NTDP was chosen to talk about his experiences in an elite U-18 program.

Lawrence is still raking up the points for Eindhoven Kemphanen of the Dutch Elite League, where he has 16 goals and 20 assists in 28 games played. He had a goal and an assist Tuesday night against Herentals HYC.

« Older posts Newer posts »