Friday, April 22, 2011

Gotta grab what you love

      As a young child, we all have dreams of what we want to be. Whether that's a fireman, a baseball player, the US President, or maybe you just wanted to be He-Man? Who knows. That's on you. At what point as an adult do you give up on those dreams? When you're 30? When you have kids? Get married? That's a harrowing call that each individual has to make for themselves. Realizing a plan for your dream and moving towards that goal is something that doesn't always happen when you're in that College Academic advisors office. Sometimes it takes a life full of lessons, last calls, and speeches about your "potential" before you get your act right.
     I myself am not a quick learner of life. It has taken me time. Hello my name is Ashby and I have a retarded amount of sports potential. I HAVE to work in sports! I just have to. I "interned" for 4 weeks last summer as the guy who broke down offense and defense film at a JUCO college (Mesa Community College) for a head coach who coached for 11 years in the NFL!!! (Side Note: It was limited to 4 weeks because Head Coach Hargrave was fired for embezzlement). At the beginning, I had a brief meeting with the OC while my boy Nick, a future FB for Mesa, talked with some other players. I used those stupid hours of Sportscenter and NFL Network to break down his playbook! He was dutifully impressed, got me the meeting with Coach Hargrave, and a man who coached 11 yrs in the NFL decided I had enough potential in my football knowledge to teach me how to break down film. NFL style! It was freakin glorious!!!! And while it truly sucks Hargrave embezzled and got his whole staff fired, yes even the volunteers, it was an experience that millions of NFL fans would DIE FOR!!!!! A validation. That my insane knowledge has a purpose...its just about finding it.
     But I truly believe my professional knowledge is not limited to football. That may sound conceded but its not. It's just not.  Anyone who ever asked me to break down a box and 1, the infield shifts in every situation, or the Tampa 2! These innate abilities (passed down by my Granddaddy) are providing me another avenue for "The Dream". Jason, a friend of mine, is an Atlanta Braves Scout who is coming into Phoenix this weekend from the LA area. I had very preliminary discussions last weekend concerning possible scouting employment. I met Jason two yrs ago and while he has been appreciative of my love of the great American Pastime, He had to finish being an associate scout before anything could really go down. This is his 3rd yr being a scout and next yr he will have his own associate scouts at his disposal. He thought of me. From April 22-24, he will be in Phx. I will schmooze, impress with my knowledge, and hopefully convince him of my scouting potential. He doesn't have the final word. But he has A word in the decision. The dream is alive!!! My passion is feasible. Those hundreds of hours are for a reason. A capitalistic purpose! Making a passion profitable is how you show people. That's the REAL goal of facebook but that's for another blog.
     How do you show your father that even though he was SOOOOO worried about your obsession that it can be profitable. You show him knowledge gained from reading the sports page front to back at the age of 6 is not a bad thing. And while I LOVE that you made me read the ENTIRE newspaper everyday from the age of 6, if I wanted to continue to get that sports page, I know you don't have to be scared of my addiction. It CAN be profitable! I KNOW i will get to that "sports dream"! For me, its not an "if" but a "when".
     I implore you to reach for whatever it is you love. It is NEVER too late. Money is not the end. Just a part of the means. Imagine being happy to go to work. Being disappointed on Sat and Sun that you don't have work. Imagine living out a childhood fantasy. Imagine growing up to be He-Man and getting paid for it! Just Imagine.

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
-John Lennon

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Dear Bandwagon Fans...........

     DISCLAIMER: To all bandwagon fans, I may piss you off in this blog by my general disgust of your existence!!!!!!

     Bandwagon Fan. Depending on who you are, that can be a very abusive term. Webster's Dictionary had nothing for me but UrbanDictionary.com did. A couple definitions. 1. "Anyone who claims they are a "fan" of a particular sports team even though they had no prior support for/interest in that particular team until that team started winning. These type of fans show playoff interest, and have probably never watched a regular season game." 2.Whenever's a region's sports team gets really good, really quickly. Everyone and their fucking dog either buys a sports jersey or takes the old one out of the closet claiming they are a diehard fan." Hmmmm....
     I'm just gonna let those definitions sink in....... In 1995, I was a freshman at college and my favorite MLB team, the Braves, FINALLY won the World Series. I was called a bandwagon fan cause those people had NO idea the suffering of 100 loss seasons coupled with several World Series losses did to me. They didn't know my history of fandom with the Braves, so I understand the accusations. I was not a bandwagon fan! I am the fan that takes offense to that term. I am the fan who is serious in his fanhood. Now, I understand the casual fan who latches on at the opportune moment of the Super Bowl, World Series, or the Final Four. You are too cute. The kind of cute that Lennie crushed in Of Mice and Men! LETS GET THIS STRAIGHT. You exist because I exist!!! I, the REAL sports fan, enable your casual fandom. Your Final Four parties, your Super Bowl parties,  and definitely your World Cup excuses for being late for work. Me and hundreds of thousands like me are ruthless in our loyalty to attendance, merchandise, and viewing habits. You the casual bandwagon fan...you are the casualty of the great American existence, Sports.
     Now, UrbanDictionary.com's definitions cover many a team. Most recently I am reminded of the VCU Basketball team as they made their run to the 2011 Final Four. It was a tremendous run for a mid-major team. But it both confuses me and makes me sympathetic towards people. I mean, it's cute. It's just sweet how people who have NEVER rooted for a team suddenly have a rooting interest and they are buying jerseys/merchandise of the team. I understand that not everyone is a real fan. I understand that. They have that excuse of ignorance. BUT YOU.....and you know who I'm talking about. The ACTUAL sports fan whose team didn't make it. So you became a die hard fan of a region team that did. I laugh at you. You are NO SPORTS FAN! You pretend to be loyal to your team but your loyalty is as false as Obama's desire to help America! I don't care about your "little engine that could" regional team. It's a real shame people will compromise themselves as "true fans" (cause next yr they will call themselves that when they root for the team/school they always rooted for) so that they will openly root for a regional team that is still in it.
     You disgust me. Phonies. Nothing but fake shit. But next year I will wait for you. You will be there. That team you "always" were behind and just now suddenly started rooting for. Do what you do. I will wait for you. Like a fart in the wind, you will come and go. So VIRGINIANS, I speak to YOU!!! When UVA lacrosse and soccer is in contention for a national title, WILL YOU STAND UP! If VT runs through the ACC Football schedule like we did last year, WILL YOU STAND UP!!! You JMU, Hampton, UR, VCU, GMU, WMU fans, WILL YOU STAND UP!!! You stood up for VCU, don't sit down now!!!! Its okay if you dont. I will laugh and remember you claiming you weren't a bandwagon fan. BUT if you don't, admit to yourself you are a BANDWAGON VCU fan!!!! I KNOW that's what you are. I am not fooled. I love these sports and I am intolerant of your abuses!!! In your heart you will know you are a bandwagon. You are that fuckin fly buzzing around that nobody gives a shit about. That nuisance. You are a part of nothing. No Ram Nation. You will go away next year and I laugh at you. You are pathetic. But I am sympathetic to you like the cripple in the Post Office with leprosy, CAUSE YOU FREAKIN DISGUST ME!!!!