Good Morning and it was nice to open those windows last night!
Back in the day, I didn't know much or care much about soccer. A couple of friends played in high school. I think I went to one game.
When I got to college, I joined the school newspaper right away.
OK, the sports editor at the time told me, you can cover soccer.
So, I headed to the library and did some studying on the game. I talked to the coach, to the players, to my friends.
When I started I couldn't tell you where a midfielder would play (yeah, it's kind of obvious). By the end, I could call an offside before the ref (yeah, it's kind of obvious).
Throughout my career, I've seen thousands of soccer games. I've watched the World Cup. I've even found the game fun, not boring like so many Americans.
The last couple of years when the children got involved, I've found even more reasons to enjoy the game.
This year, about three days before the season was to begin, I heard there was no coach for my daughter's team.
I jumped right in and, even though it was about 1,000 degrees Saturday, we started the season. I think the players actually had a good time.
Now, I need to talk to those refs about offsides.
Showing posts with label games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label games. Show all posts
Monday, September 8, 2014
Monday, January 13, 2014
Video game redux
Good Morning and let's just all agree we should end winter now.
I remember when we first got video games in our house.
Suddenly, I could play pong and space invaders on the television (Thanks Atari) instead of waiting to go to the mall.
It was a good time.
As I got older, I found it was more fun to head to the mall and hang out at the arcade. Don't think that had as much to do with the games as being able to just hang out.
The arcades soon went the way of the dinosaurs (well, except for the down the shore) when the games at home got cheaper and better.
Now, it's all about the games.
My biggest threat for good behavior is I'll not let them play games. Sometimes it works, other times it just gets worse.
I pull them off the computer and they start playing on the phone.
I take the phone away and they are lost.
So, what can we do about this? How do we unplug teens and pre-teens?
Time to pull out the basketball.
I remember when we first got video games in our house.
Suddenly, I could play pong and space invaders on the television (Thanks Atari) instead of waiting to go to the mall.
It was a good time.
As I got older, I found it was more fun to head to the mall and hang out at the arcade. Don't think that had as much to do with the games as being able to just hang out.
The arcades soon went the way of the dinosaurs (well, except for the down the shore) when the games at home got cheaper and better.
Now, it's all about the games.
My biggest threat for good behavior is I'll not let them play games. Sometimes it works, other times it just gets worse.
I pull them off the computer and they start playing on the phone.
I take the phone away and they are lost.
So, what can we do about this? How do we unplug teens and pre-teens?
Time to pull out the basketball.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Rise and Shine --- Madness?
Good Morning and don't you wish another storm would come tonight so the TV people can get all crazy?
Anyway, there used to be a time when I would study all the NCAA Tournament match-ups. I would break down the guard play of teams like Tulsa and how they could make a run through the tournament. I would recognize that a team like Butler would be poised to make some noise. I would go game-by-game all the way through.
You know what? None of it mattered. I never seemed to do any better than somebody who would pick by uniform color. Still, it was fun watching all the games.
It still is (again). I lost it for a few years. I didn't watch many games, mostly followed them through late-night highlights.
I won't watch them all this year. I find it kind of tough to be sitting inside watching games on a Saturday afternoon, but I'll catch my fair share.
Now, I have to ask my daughter which team's uniform is better.
Anyway, there used to be a time when I would study all the NCAA Tournament match-ups. I would break down the guard play of teams like Tulsa and how they could make a run through the tournament. I would recognize that a team like Butler would be poised to make some noise. I would go game-by-game all the way through.
You know what? None of it mattered. I never seemed to do any better than somebody who would pick by uniform color. Still, it was fun watching all the games.
It still is (again). I lost it for a few years. I didn't watch many games, mostly followed them through late-night highlights.
I won't watch them all this year. I find it kind of tough to be sitting inside watching games on a Saturday afternoon, but I'll catch my fair share.
Now, I have to ask my daughter which team's uniform is better.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Rise and Shine --- When new is old
Good Morning and what's that they are talking about this week?
Anyway, the house has recently discovered the joy of board games.
For years, we had games sitting around the house, everything from "Chutes & Ladders" to "Candyland" to "Operation."
We played the games maybe a couple of times a year or every other year or something like that. Somehow, the pieces have all disappeared. There are broken boards. There are missing cards, dice, whatever.
In January, we picked up "Monopoly" (actually a Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer edition of the game). Since then, we've played probably ever other day.
As fun as that has become, we needed to branch out. I remember sitting around the table all those years ago playing games like "Clue" and "Life."
So, I picked up "Clue" a couple of weeks ago and now that's in the rotation.
It's actually kind of cool in this age of video games where we can gather around the table, laugh and have some fun.
Now, I have to find more games for everybody.
Anyway, the house has recently discovered the joy of board games.
For years, we had games sitting around the house, everything from "Chutes & Ladders" to "Candyland" to "Operation."
We played the games maybe a couple of times a year or every other year or something like that. Somehow, the pieces have all disappeared. There are broken boards. There are missing cards, dice, whatever.
In January, we picked up "Monopoly" (actually a Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer edition of the game). Since then, we've played probably ever other day.
As fun as that has become, we needed to branch out. I remember sitting around the table all those years ago playing games like "Clue" and "Life."
So, I picked up "Clue" a couple of weeks ago and now that's in the rotation.
It's actually kind of cool in this age of video games where we can gather around the table, laugh and have some fun.
Now, I have to find more games for everybody.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Rise and Shine --- The password
Good Morning and welcome to the start of a rainy week!
Of course, the dark clouds will clear out, that's the beauty of it all.
Speaking of the Dark Side, anybody who has ventured into the world of the iPhone knows how addictive the gadget can be.
There are millions of aps to download, millions of games to check out. Oh yeah, you can actually make calls and check e-mail as well. It's becoming so you might not even need anything else (well, OK, maybe an iPad, but that's for another time).
The amazing part for me, though, is how easy children are able to pick things up.
We've had an iPhone since October and a day doesn't go by before the request comes in: 'Can I play on the phone?'
Once in awhile is OK, but, hey, we do need the phones for something besides games. Something like, I don't know, making phone calls.
Well, during a longer drive last week, I handed over the phone so a 7-year old and a 5-year old would at least calm down a little bit. So, after a little while of playing games, a new request came forward: 'Dad, what's a password?'
Uh, Oh.
Now, they've figured out how to get to the download page. Now, it's 'Can we get this game?' or 'Can we try this one?'
No, no and no password hints here.
Now, if they only put so much effort into schoolwork...
Of course, the dark clouds will clear out, that's the beauty of it all.
Speaking of the Dark Side, anybody who has ventured into the world of the iPhone knows how addictive the gadget can be.
There are millions of aps to download, millions of games to check out. Oh yeah, you can actually make calls and check e-mail as well. It's becoming so you might not even need anything else (well, OK, maybe an iPad, but that's for another time).
The amazing part for me, though, is how easy children are able to pick things up.
We've had an iPhone since October and a day doesn't go by before the request comes in: 'Can I play on the phone?'
Once in awhile is OK, but, hey, we do need the phones for something besides games. Something like, I don't know, making phone calls.
Well, during a longer drive last week, I handed over the phone so a 7-year old and a 5-year old would at least calm down a little bit. So, after a little while of playing games, a new request came forward: 'Dad, what's a password?'
Uh, Oh.
Now, they've figured out how to get to the download page. Now, it's 'Can we get this game?' or 'Can we try this one?'
No, no and no password hints here.
Now, if they only put so much effort into schoolwork...
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Rise and Shine --- From calm to panic in 30 seconds
Good Morning and welcome to another perfect July day!
While sitting in the office Wednesday morning, I saw a television commercial targeting parents of young children. The commercial showed a mother with a young child at a park. The mother puts her head down for a second and the child is gone. The panicked Mom looks around and doesn't see the child. The visual cuts to a white van driving out of the park. The Mom then reaches into her bag and pulls out some kind of child GPS tracker. You put one part on your child and the other part beeps when it's close. The tracker works fine in the commercial and the smiling boy comes out of the woods with a red balloon.
Now, I'm one to think we have enough gadgets in our pockets. We have cell phones, keyless car entry buttons, garage-door openers and everything else. Why get another gadget?
Then again... Meet Brendan.
He's 7-years old, a free-spirit and can be, well, a handful.
During dinner Wednesday night, we were talking about heading to the library for a puppet show. Brendan, as he's apt to do, finished dinner first, left the table and starting tumbling around on the couch.
You keep half an eye to make sure he doesn't run outside, then get back to eating or cleaning up or just resting.
There's still plenty of time for the puppet show, so we get ready to go, but there's no Brendan.
Everybody starts calmly looking around the house. We check the play room. We check the bathroom. We check his bedroom. His brother's bedroom. His sister's bedroom.
No Brendan.
We start yelling his name.
No Brendan.
We check around outside.
No Brendan.
We go back inside and yell his name louder.
No Brendan.
His mom, getting close to full panic mode, takes a quick ride around the block to see if he just sort of wandered.
No Brendan.
We yell louder. People are staring to stare at the house (or avoid it).
No Brendan.
Check the garage.
No Brendan.
Mom grabs the phone. Dials a 9.
"Hi Mom."
Huh?!?
There's Brendan. Big Smile. Starting to laugh.
"I was just playing hide and seek in this box."
It's not a game if nobody else is playing. Unfortunately, and a 7-year old is (hopefully) never going to understand this, but we live in a world where you quickly go from a playful search to thinking (believing?) the worst.
We are lucky. It was just a child playing around. Of course, our heads are another story.
Not to push a product, I (and everybody else in the house) know what this is like:
While sitting in the office Wednesday morning, I saw a television commercial targeting parents of young children. The commercial showed a mother with a young child at a park. The mother puts her head down for a second and the child is gone. The panicked Mom looks around and doesn't see the child. The visual cuts to a white van driving out of the park. The Mom then reaches into her bag and pulls out some kind of child GPS tracker. You put one part on your child and the other part beeps when it's close. The tracker works fine in the commercial and the smiling boy comes out of the woods with a red balloon.
Now, I'm one to think we have enough gadgets in our pockets. We have cell phones, keyless car entry buttons, garage-door openers and everything else. Why get another gadget?
Then again... Meet Brendan.
He's 7-years old, a free-spirit and can be, well, a handful.
During dinner Wednesday night, we were talking about heading to the library for a puppet show. Brendan, as he's apt to do, finished dinner first, left the table and starting tumbling around on the couch.
You keep half an eye to make sure he doesn't run outside, then get back to eating or cleaning up or just resting.
There's still plenty of time for the puppet show, so we get ready to go, but there's no Brendan.
Everybody starts calmly looking around the house. We check the play room. We check the bathroom. We check his bedroom. His brother's bedroom. His sister's bedroom.
No Brendan.
We start yelling his name.
No Brendan.
We check around outside.
No Brendan.
We go back inside and yell his name louder.
No Brendan.
His mom, getting close to full panic mode, takes a quick ride around the block to see if he just sort of wandered.
No Brendan.
We yell louder. People are staring to stare at the house (or avoid it).
No Brendan.
Check the garage.
No Brendan.
Mom grabs the phone. Dials a 9.
"Hi Mom."
Huh?!?
There's Brendan. Big Smile. Starting to laugh.
"I was just playing hide and seek in this box."
It's not a game if nobody else is playing. Unfortunately, and a 7-year old is (hopefully) never going to understand this, but we live in a world where you quickly go from a playful search to thinking (believing?) the worst.
We are lucky. It was just a child playing around. Of course, our heads are another story.
Not to push a product, I (and everybody else in the house) know what this is like:
Monday, August 18, 2008
Rise and Shine
Good Morning Mr. and Mrs. Delaware County and all the ships at sea!
Well, here we are a week and change into the Summer Olympics and, once again, the 'experts' have been proved wrong.
For weeks leading up to the Games, there was a lot of talk about how everything is going stale. How the Games don't matter any more. How China can't possibly get everything together.
Well, thanks to Michael Phelps, some inspired gymnasts and ferocious back-and-forth in beach volleyball, the Games do matter.
When you see an 9-year old boy, who up until last week had never seen a swim meet or a volleyball game, jumping up and cheering, well, the perspective has changed.
There are always going to be be nice stories and the like at the Olympic games. When you have so many people gathered in one spot for an extended period of time, that's bound to happen.
While the national pride thing may not be as big as it once was, it's fun to watch the best athletes in the world going head-to-head.
With Tiger Woods not playing golf, the Phillies doing an August swoon and the NFL not really relevant for a couple of weeks, the Olympics have really saved the summer.
It's not only fun to watch, but really inspiring.
If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com
Well, here we are a week and change into the Summer Olympics and, once again, the 'experts' have been proved wrong.
For weeks leading up to the Games, there was a lot of talk about how everything is going stale. How the Games don't matter any more. How China can't possibly get everything together.
Well, thanks to Michael Phelps, some inspired gymnasts and ferocious back-and-forth in beach volleyball, the Games do matter.
When you see an 9-year old boy, who up until last week had never seen a swim meet or a volleyball game, jumping up and cheering, well, the perspective has changed.
There are always going to be be nice stories and the like at the Olympic games. When you have so many people gathered in one spot for an extended period of time, that's bound to happen.
While the national pride thing may not be as big as it once was, it's fun to watch the best athletes in the world going head-to-head.
With Tiger Woods not playing golf, the Phillies doing an August swoon and the NFL not really relevant for a couple of weeks, the Olympics have really saved the summer.
It's not only fun to watch, but really inspiring.
If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com
Thursday, May 1, 2008
RISE AND SHINE
GOOD MORNING, DELAWARE COUNTY!
Maybe it's just me, but who in the world is Shigeru Miyamoto?
Did this person come up with a miracle cure for cancer? Did he give away billions to help others? Did he come up with an alternative energy source so we don't have to fund the houses in the South of France for the CEOs of oil companies? I know, maybe Shigeru Miyamoto is personally bringing down the government of China and its questionable human rights stance?
How about this, Shigeru Miyamoto is a video game designer.
He was also named the No. 1 most influential person in a Time magazine poll.
Shigeru Miyamoto, the designer of such world changing things as Donkey Kong and the Legend of Zelda, narrowly beat out somebody named Rain for the top spot. Rain, by the way, is described as a 'Korean pop sensation' whatever that is.
Television comic Steven Colbert came in a distant third, followed quickly by Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks.
Here's the whole list
OK, now, I can only assume there was some serious ballot stuffing for this list. After all, if a guy can design Donkey Kong, he can probably bust into the online voting and give himself, say, a million votes.
Still, this is a little disturbing. How are any of these five people influential at all? Have they done anything to better our lives. The only Rain I know of will be falling later this afternoon. While it makes the grass grow and the flowers look pretty, I don't think it's very influential. It's certainly not influential when we have to pull out the lawnmower.
So, this can only lead to the next logical question: Who is the most influencial person in Delaware County?
Are there any? I'd be willing to bet if there was such a poll, the top spot would be going to somebody sitting in prison or something like that. Maybe that guy who used to walk around the Hook in his bare feet.
A vote like that would be scary. Hey, even Gil Spencer would probably break the top five.
We all need a break:
If you have any cool links or photos or want to vote for an influential person, send an e-mail to onlinedelco@gmail.com or leave a comment at the end.
Maybe it's just me, but who in the world is Shigeru Miyamoto?
Did this person come up with a miracle cure for cancer? Did he give away billions to help others? Did he come up with an alternative energy source so we don't have to fund the houses in the South of France for the CEOs of oil companies? I know, maybe Shigeru Miyamoto is personally bringing down the government of China and its questionable human rights stance?
How about this, Shigeru Miyamoto is a video game designer.
He was also named the No. 1 most influential person in a Time magazine poll.
Shigeru Miyamoto, the designer of such world changing things as Donkey Kong and the Legend of Zelda, narrowly beat out somebody named Rain for the top spot. Rain, by the way, is described as a 'Korean pop sensation' whatever that is.
Television comic Steven Colbert came in a distant third, followed quickly by Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks.
Here's the whole list
OK, now, I can only assume there was some serious ballot stuffing for this list. After all, if a guy can design Donkey Kong, he can probably bust into the online voting and give himself, say, a million votes.
Still, this is a little disturbing. How are any of these five people influential at all? Have they done anything to better our lives. The only Rain I know of will be falling later this afternoon. While it makes the grass grow and the flowers look pretty, I don't think it's very influential. It's certainly not influential when we have to pull out the lawnmower.
So, this can only lead to the next logical question: Who is the most influencial person in Delaware County?
Are there any? I'd be willing to bet if there was such a poll, the top spot would be going to somebody sitting in prison or something like that. Maybe that guy who used to walk around the Hook in his bare feet.
A vote like that would be scary. Hey, even Gil Spencer would probably break the top five.
We all need a break:
If you have any cool links or photos or want to vote for an influential person, send an e-mail to onlinedelco@gmail.com or leave a comment at the end.
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