WELL DONE BUCKEYES!
For the second time in 84 days (yes, I counted), I have watched the Ohio State Buckeyes lose a National Championship game. Even worse, both losses came to the same university. Am I disappointed? Of course. Am I angry? Not at all. And let me tell you why.
It literally cracks me up to see people get pissed off at Ohio State after a loss…even better, a National Championship loss. How spoiled are we as fans to get mad at a team that gave us so much throughout the season?
The Ohio State football team came in with great expectations with an explosive offense and a young defense that had amazing potential. Though there were doubters all year about whether we could run through our regular season, the Buckeyes triumphed in those 12 games, including an impressive victory over the hated rival Michigan. Now in most years, a win over Michigan is enough to make the season a good one. But after the debacle in Arizona against the Gators, I have never seen OSU fans get more sour. Until now…
Tonight, right after the basketball game was over, I was “lucky” enough to see just how bad OSU fans can be (and it was probably worse on the actual OSU campus). Instead of actually just thinking about how great of a season it was, they immediately start screaming cuss words off balconies and get pissed off at Florida. Let’s get this straight. Florida WAS the better team and has been all year. The only way the Buckeyes come away with that victory is if they play a better game. And tonight, they didn’t. So suck it up Buckeye fans, we had a helluva year, especially with 4 freshmen playing a ton of minutes.
It’s as if the Big Ten Championship wasn’t enough? Or how about beating Wisconsin twice, including a HUGE win in the Big Ten Tourney championship game? Oh, and let’s not forget the Xavier game…that Ron Lewis shot will forever be a part of OSU basketball history. Hell, without it, OSU doesn’t even make it THIS far. That Sweet 16 game against Tennessee wasn’t too bad either…we only came back from 20 points and sealed the deal with a Greg Oden block. The Memphis game sent us to the Final Four, something we haven’t seen since 1999 (or 1962 depending on who you are). And then the Georgetown game that no one gave us a shot in.
And then we lost to Florida.
Hmmmm, seems like a lot more highlights than lowlights. Suck it up Buckeye fans. We had a good run and an amazing year.
Before I end this blog, I just want to give my thoughts on March Madness in general. Every year, I cannot wait for this tournament. It’s the best postseason sporting event in the U.S. and will continue to be. This year was no exception. There were upsets, there were great shots and the best part, there was Gus Johnson (check out this link: there’s no one better in the business http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWdjhRaVQ74)
So to recap another great March Madness, I have listed by top 10 moments from March Madness 2007:
10. Memphis wins a thriller against Texas A&M when Acie Law blows a late lay-up that could have given the Aggies an important three-point lead late in the game
9. Who doesn’t love a good Butler Bulldog tourney run? The Bulldogs went to the Sweet 16 once again, just to fall short to eventual champ Florida, in a game the Bulldogs stayed with the Gators for most of the way
8. There weren’t many upsets this year but the Winthrop upset over Notre Dame was pretty cool. Winthrop goes up big, Irish fight back, but Winthrop and Craig Marshall will not be denied their first ever Tourney win
7. Vanderbilt beats Washington State in 2OT. This game was just flat out exciting…though I can’t name one player on each team. Just the coaches.
6. The shot by Jeff Green to send Georgetown into the Elite Eight. Did he travel? Probably but hey, that’s the joy of this tourney. Big time player making big time plays. Too bad the big time refs forgot the big time whistle.
5. VCU upsets Duke. VC-who you say I know. This team has been on the up since Jeff Capel started coaching their a few years ago. Now, they are beating one of the most historic programs in college basketball. Eric Maynor, the hero.
4. Georgetown coming back to beat North Carolina to clinch their spot in the Final Four. Pretty sure most thought the Tar Heels were moving on but the Hoyas showed great fortitude and guts, sending the game into OT and then dominating Tyler “I cry like a baby” Hansbrough and UNC in the extra period.
3. Tennessee vs. OSU. Sweet 16. OSU down 17 at the half. Down 20 at one point. Too bad this is March Madness. The Buckeyes pull off a great comeback, with a combination of Oden inside and big 3-balls outside to bring them back and to the win. Oh, and there was a block too.
2. Florida defeating OSU for the title. Yea, I’m a Buckeye fan but you gotta respect a team that actually plays like a team and knows how to take over and finish games. Did you notice no one really came back on these Gators during the tourney? They deserve this one and as a college basketball fan, it’s nice to see players come back for another run instead of running to the money and fame of the NBA.
1. Come on, that Lewis shot is what college basketball is all about. OSU fan or not, that shot was clutch, especially when a 9 seed has a 1 seed on the ropes. For me, I about went crazy, especially since I thought it was long. Ron Lewis didn’t shoot well in the Final Four but I’ll tell ya this. I”ll take his shot in that Xavier game anyday than him making 2 or 3 trifectas in a later game. It’s all about the thrill and suspense and pure excitement. There ain’t nothing better.
So now that the Madness is over, let’s all take a breath and remember the year that was. It was a good one, actually, a damn good one. Lot of great players, lot of great teams, and a lot of great basketball.
And for you OSU fans still screaming off the balconies, get over it already. Odds are, the Buckeyes will be back soon in both sports. That’s what happens when you have an athletic department that actually makes money (see Ohio University). And if that doesn’t help, well, I guess all I can say is HAKUNA MATATA!
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Are you serious?
I probably shouldn’t write blog entries when I am angry/frustrated. I just don’t seem to write my best. I just seem to ramble, complain, bitch and moan. But this time, I felt compelled to write this out because well, as the title suggests, I could not believe what happened earlier today.
Most of you who read this should already know this but in case you don’t, I have a minority scholarship here at OU that pays for everything and even gives me an overage check each quarter. So in essence, I get paid to go to school. Scary thought I know. Anyways, it’s our program’s usual Tuesday roundtable meeting where we are to discuss some topic. It could be anything, ranging from global warming to universal health care to any scholarly subject.
For this meeting though, we had our program’s leaders in the meeting with our GA and our usual professor who leads our discussions. For today’s roundtable, we were going to discuss the direction of the program. Let me give you a quick snapshot of what we have to do to keep our scholarship:
1. Maintain a 3.0 average w/ minimum 16 hours each quarter (fair enough, I mean, it is a scholarship)
2. 6 hrs of community service each quarter (not asking too much)
3. Attend weekly roundtables (more on these later)
4. Write a 1-2 page personal reflection paper each quarter (usually takes me 15 min on a weekend to finish)
That’s honestly about it. Not much huh? Well, you wouldn’t be able to tell that from our meeting tonight. Here are some quotes from people and my feelings. Feel free to gasp, moan and get mad. I sure did.
“I think the UC classes are pointless…they told us to make a collage for an assignment. It was simply busy work. I mean, I have real classes with real papers and real reading and don’t have time for busy work” (Freshman)
Two things here. The freshman must take three UC classes over the first year. UC 115 (First-Year Experience), UC 169 (First-Year Seminar, and a UC Class TBA. Also, these UC classes might be the easiest classes on this campus behind the recreation classes such as bowling, swimming, etc… The are designed for students to succeed. They are not a lot of work. They are made to make sure there is a good transition between high school and college. Got it? Now, look at the quote.
Are you frickin serious? You’re telling me you think a class that is an easy A is pointless? And then you’re complaining about a collage? WTF! You could just have a third “real paper” in another “real class”. The sad thing is that most of the freshmen agreed with this guy, all agreeing that the UC class doesn’t challenge them. It’s like they want more work, more papers, more thinking. The sad part is that since they are freshmen, they don’t know that everyone else in that room would DIE for a UC class right now. Classes get harder and more time-consuming. If they are complaining about a class being too easy, then they’ll be downright excited when junior year rolls around and all that free time they have now turns into study time at the library or in your room. Oh, and they’ll want a collage then no doubt. Frickin naïve frosh.
Oh, and just for fun. One freshman threw out a comment about how they only used one page in her $40 book for the first UC class. Well, cry me a river. You get a refund check ranging normally from $300-$1000 your first year. I think that’ll make up for it. So don’t give me a sob story about $40. Take away this scholarship and then come crying to the moon.
“I don’t need a ‘cushion’. I don’t mean to be rude but who are you all to say I need a ‘cushion’”. (Freshman)
The “cushion” I refer to here is the UC classes I talked about. One of our program directors called those classes something to kind of fall back on, lighten the load on a hard quarter, in other words, a “cushion” for freshman. So who is this guy to tell our director he doesn’t need that cushion? Is he offended that he is being forced to take a class that is created to give you a GPA-boosting A or A-? I just don’t get it. These freshmen all felt like they were too good for a UC class, as if they were supposed to be for dumber freshman, not “scholars” like us.
This is what I say. Stop whining, take your A, and move on. I have never heard more people complain about such an easy class. It’s like saying to your advisor that you hate your psychology class because attendance is optional and not mandatory. It just doesn’t make sense. You pay ZERO dollars to go here. You have no right to complain about a class you have to take. You aren’t paying for it. Just do the work, no matter how little of a “challenge” it is. Get rid of this attitude that all classes HAVE to be hard. If you wanted that, then go to Harvard. If you want to succeed in school and still have somewhat of a life outside of academics, then stay here. Oh, and did I mention it’s FREE here. Ugh…
Oh, and his blurb about who do they think they are? I don’t know if he knows this but he was talking to three people with doctorate degrees. All have dealt with students and managing students their entire career. So shut up because they know more than you. You may think you know what’s good for a freshman like yourself but guess what, you don’t because you ARE A FRESHMAN NOW! Even I know what’s better for you as a first-year student. So get rid of that “too good for this” attitude. You don’t know what is.
“I feel like you all (the program directors) always look at us (students) as if we are stupid kids trying to get out of work. There is a huge disconnect between us and the program. I just want you all to treat us like adults.” (Senior)
This one fired me up too. Not as much as the UC class subject because this one has some merit to it. There is a lack of communication between our program heads and the students but again, more on that later. I want to address this quote.
The senior says the program thinks we are stupid kids who are trying to get out of work and that we should be treated as adults. The sad part is that as the senior says this, he/she looks like more of a child. The program gives us all this money to do only those 4 things I listed earlier. Then, all we do is complain. Oh yeah, that’s mature on our part, especially since we signed a contract agreeing to the terms above. So when I hear argue about community service or class hours, I get a headache. We have literally 4 requirements. THAT’S IT. 4 requirements to keep a scholarship worth just under $80,000 over four year. If we were true adults, we would listen and do what is asked of us. Also, if we had a problem, we wouldn’t bring it up in front of everyone, but instead do it in front of the program directors, face-to-face in their office. This is more informal and makes for better conversation. Instead though, we start petty arguments about trivial things and argue for hours at a time since we can’t act like the mature adults I thought we were.
“I never came to see you because I didn’t know who you all were. I feel like there was never an attempt for you to meet the freshman so it was kind of intimidating to come and ask you a question” (Freshman)
First of all, my rule of thumb when it comes to getting to know someone is that if you care that much, then you’ll go and introduce yourself and get to know them. If you don’t care, you’ll worry only about yourself and other things. This is important because in this situation, the freshman complains about all these classes and other crap YET has never gone to talk to our director face-to-face and talked about their problem. Instead, she felt intimidated by a director that all year has said her door is always open. Not only that but why should the director have to carry all the burden to met the freshman. Why not flip that situation? It seems to me this was just another way for the freshman to complain since obviously, they have more time to think of complaints cuz their UC class doesn’t keep them busy from thinking of complaints.
If the freshman really cared, she would’ve gone a long time ago and talked about these problems. But nope, instead she just waits for the right moment to pounce on the directors as if her suggestion in front of them and 30 of her peers will carry more weight then a one-on-one meeting. Yea, that’s mature. Crap like this fires me up. If you have a problem with me, tell me. If you have a problem with something I’m a part of, tell me. Don’t beat around the bush. Don’t stay quiet. Just tell me. We are all big boys and girls. We cannot lose our scholarship simply because we are speaking our minds. So being afraid isn’t an excuse…well unless of course, you’re a kid.
The last point I will bring up is our roundtable discussion. Yea, they can be boring but sometimes, they can truly be intellectual. Problem is though, normally we talk about one of two things:
1. What needs to be fixed in the program (and it ALWAYS goes long)
2. What we will talk about in next week’s meeting (just one big circle week-to-week)
I’m not a big fan of these, especially this quarter because I feel like we talk about nothing relevant to a group of 30 minority students with homework and books to read after the meeting. Yet, I go for two reasons. The first is that I have to. The second is that it’s the least I can do to thank the program for giving me this scholarship.
MY FINAL TAKE:
So what do I really think? I think that now even people with full scholarships are getting stuck-up and spoiled. The program provides them with all this money. Actually, an excess of money. And instead of properly thanking the program by simply following its wishes, it challenges and questions them. And not the good challenge and question that brings about change. No, the kind of challenge and question that shows how lazy and arrogant the scholars have gotten. The program started on very shaky roots. There was a lot of opposition to it. People had to fight hard to make these scholarships and the least these freshman and others could be in grateful. They could be like other students I know who are paying their way through college, with or without Mom and Dad’s help. They could be paying for books with money made from all that work over the summer. They could be taking 20 hours of hard material.
But instead, they are getting paid to go to school. They have money left over to pay for books. They get to take classes that give you an early A to pad the GPA. But most importantly, it gives you a support system in 30 other people just like you. So, with all due respect, shut up. Don’t start thinking you are too good for things such as community service and UC classes. Too good for professional dress or etiquette dinners. You are part of a distinguished group of students. We have a great opportunity. Don’t screw it up by complaining with your big mouth. You don’t have the right…especially when you’re a freshman. I am glad they were honest and forthright in their opinions but I am NOT happy that their opinions leaned toward the side of arrogance and not humility. We are NOT better than anyone. We were just given an opportunity and a damn good one if I may say so.
If I hear anyone else complain, I’m gonna flip. Either go the directors or don’t talk at all because if not, there probably won’t be any change because you’re not mature to understand the true reason for this scholarship and its requirements. Just go to class and do what needs to be done. No more whining…leave that for kids.
I probably shouldn’t write blog entries when I am angry/frustrated. I just don’t seem to write my best. I just seem to ramble, complain, bitch and moan. But this time, I felt compelled to write this out because well, as the title suggests, I could not believe what happened earlier today.
Most of you who read this should already know this but in case you don’t, I have a minority scholarship here at OU that pays for everything and even gives me an overage check each quarter. So in essence, I get paid to go to school. Scary thought I know. Anyways, it’s our program’s usual Tuesday roundtable meeting where we are to discuss some topic. It could be anything, ranging from global warming to universal health care to any scholarly subject.
For this meeting though, we had our program’s leaders in the meeting with our GA and our usual professor who leads our discussions. For today’s roundtable, we were going to discuss the direction of the program. Let me give you a quick snapshot of what we have to do to keep our scholarship:
1. Maintain a 3.0 average w/ minimum 16 hours each quarter (fair enough, I mean, it is a scholarship)
2. 6 hrs of community service each quarter (not asking too much)
3. Attend weekly roundtables (more on these later)
4. Write a 1-2 page personal reflection paper each quarter (usually takes me 15 min on a weekend to finish)
That’s honestly about it. Not much huh? Well, you wouldn’t be able to tell that from our meeting tonight. Here are some quotes from people and my feelings. Feel free to gasp, moan and get mad. I sure did.
“I think the UC classes are pointless…they told us to make a collage for an assignment. It was simply busy work. I mean, I have real classes with real papers and real reading and don’t have time for busy work” (Freshman)
Two things here. The freshman must take three UC classes over the first year. UC 115 (First-Year Experience), UC 169 (First-Year Seminar, and a UC Class TBA. Also, these UC classes might be the easiest classes on this campus behind the recreation classes such as bowling, swimming, etc… The are designed for students to succeed. They are not a lot of work. They are made to make sure there is a good transition between high school and college. Got it? Now, look at the quote.
Are you frickin serious? You’re telling me you think a class that is an easy A is pointless? And then you’re complaining about a collage? WTF! You could just have a third “real paper” in another “real class”. The sad thing is that most of the freshmen agreed with this guy, all agreeing that the UC class doesn’t challenge them. It’s like they want more work, more papers, more thinking. The sad part is that since they are freshmen, they don’t know that everyone else in that room would DIE for a UC class right now. Classes get harder and more time-consuming. If they are complaining about a class being too easy, then they’ll be downright excited when junior year rolls around and all that free time they have now turns into study time at the library or in your room. Oh, and they’ll want a collage then no doubt. Frickin naïve frosh.
Oh, and just for fun. One freshman threw out a comment about how they only used one page in her $40 book for the first UC class. Well, cry me a river. You get a refund check ranging normally from $300-$1000 your first year. I think that’ll make up for it. So don’t give me a sob story about $40. Take away this scholarship and then come crying to the moon.
“I don’t need a ‘cushion’. I don’t mean to be rude but who are you all to say I need a ‘cushion’”. (Freshman)
The “cushion” I refer to here is the UC classes I talked about. One of our program directors called those classes something to kind of fall back on, lighten the load on a hard quarter, in other words, a “cushion” for freshman. So who is this guy to tell our director he doesn’t need that cushion? Is he offended that he is being forced to take a class that is created to give you a GPA-boosting A or A-? I just don’t get it. These freshmen all felt like they were too good for a UC class, as if they were supposed to be for dumber freshman, not “scholars” like us.
This is what I say. Stop whining, take your A, and move on. I have never heard more people complain about such an easy class. It’s like saying to your advisor that you hate your psychology class because attendance is optional and not mandatory. It just doesn’t make sense. You pay ZERO dollars to go here. You have no right to complain about a class you have to take. You aren’t paying for it. Just do the work, no matter how little of a “challenge” it is. Get rid of this attitude that all classes HAVE to be hard. If you wanted that, then go to Harvard. If you want to succeed in school and still have somewhat of a life outside of academics, then stay here. Oh, and did I mention it’s FREE here. Ugh…
Oh, and his blurb about who do they think they are? I don’t know if he knows this but he was talking to three people with doctorate degrees. All have dealt with students and managing students their entire career. So shut up because they know more than you. You may think you know what’s good for a freshman like yourself but guess what, you don’t because you ARE A FRESHMAN NOW! Even I know what’s better for you as a first-year student. So get rid of that “too good for this” attitude. You don’t know what is.
“I feel like you all (the program directors) always look at us (students) as if we are stupid kids trying to get out of work. There is a huge disconnect between us and the program. I just want you all to treat us like adults.” (Senior)
This one fired me up too. Not as much as the UC class subject because this one has some merit to it. There is a lack of communication between our program heads and the students but again, more on that later. I want to address this quote.
The senior says the program thinks we are stupid kids who are trying to get out of work and that we should be treated as adults. The sad part is that as the senior says this, he/she looks like more of a child. The program gives us all this money to do only those 4 things I listed earlier. Then, all we do is complain. Oh yeah, that’s mature on our part, especially since we signed a contract agreeing to the terms above. So when I hear argue about community service or class hours, I get a headache. We have literally 4 requirements. THAT’S IT. 4 requirements to keep a scholarship worth just under $80,000 over four year. If we were true adults, we would listen and do what is asked of us. Also, if we had a problem, we wouldn’t bring it up in front of everyone, but instead do it in front of the program directors, face-to-face in their office. This is more informal and makes for better conversation. Instead though, we start petty arguments about trivial things and argue for hours at a time since we can’t act like the mature adults I thought we were.
“I never came to see you because I didn’t know who you all were. I feel like there was never an attempt for you to meet the freshman so it was kind of intimidating to come and ask you a question” (Freshman)
First of all, my rule of thumb when it comes to getting to know someone is that if you care that much, then you’ll go and introduce yourself and get to know them. If you don’t care, you’ll worry only about yourself and other things. This is important because in this situation, the freshman complains about all these classes and other crap YET has never gone to talk to our director face-to-face and talked about their problem. Instead, she felt intimidated by a director that all year has said her door is always open. Not only that but why should the director have to carry all the burden to met the freshman. Why not flip that situation? It seems to me this was just another way for the freshman to complain since obviously, they have more time to think of complaints cuz their UC class doesn’t keep them busy from thinking of complaints.
If the freshman really cared, she would’ve gone a long time ago and talked about these problems. But nope, instead she just waits for the right moment to pounce on the directors as if her suggestion in front of them and 30 of her peers will carry more weight then a one-on-one meeting. Yea, that’s mature. Crap like this fires me up. If you have a problem with me, tell me. If you have a problem with something I’m a part of, tell me. Don’t beat around the bush. Don’t stay quiet. Just tell me. We are all big boys and girls. We cannot lose our scholarship simply because we are speaking our minds. So being afraid isn’t an excuse…well unless of course, you’re a kid.
The last point I will bring up is our roundtable discussion. Yea, they can be boring but sometimes, they can truly be intellectual. Problem is though, normally we talk about one of two things:
1. What needs to be fixed in the program (and it ALWAYS goes long)
2. What we will talk about in next week’s meeting (just one big circle week-to-week)
I’m not a big fan of these, especially this quarter because I feel like we talk about nothing relevant to a group of 30 minority students with homework and books to read after the meeting. Yet, I go for two reasons. The first is that I have to. The second is that it’s the least I can do to thank the program for giving me this scholarship.
MY FINAL TAKE:
So what do I really think? I think that now even people with full scholarships are getting stuck-up and spoiled. The program provides them with all this money. Actually, an excess of money. And instead of properly thanking the program by simply following its wishes, it challenges and questions them. And not the good challenge and question that brings about change. No, the kind of challenge and question that shows how lazy and arrogant the scholars have gotten. The program started on very shaky roots. There was a lot of opposition to it. People had to fight hard to make these scholarships and the least these freshman and others could be in grateful. They could be like other students I know who are paying their way through college, with or without Mom and Dad’s help. They could be paying for books with money made from all that work over the summer. They could be taking 20 hours of hard material.
But instead, they are getting paid to go to school. They have money left over to pay for books. They get to take classes that give you an early A to pad the GPA. But most importantly, it gives you a support system in 30 other people just like you. So, with all due respect, shut up. Don’t start thinking you are too good for things such as community service and UC classes. Too good for professional dress or etiquette dinners. You are part of a distinguished group of students. We have a great opportunity. Don’t screw it up by complaining with your big mouth. You don’t have the right…especially when you’re a freshman. I am glad they were honest and forthright in their opinions but I am NOT happy that their opinions leaned toward the side of arrogance and not humility. We are NOT better than anyone. We were just given an opportunity and a damn good one if I may say so.
If I hear anyone else complain, I’m gonna flip. Either go the directors or don’t talk at all because if not, there probably won’t be any change because you’re not mature to understand the true reason for this scholarship and its requirements. Just go to class and do what needs to be done. No more whining…leave that for kids.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
This can’t be happening….
Alright people, don’t get me wrong here when I write this entry. I just have to write this out since well, keeping it in my head sometimes makes my head hurt (though that might be Hirz’s blog)
So I am in my 8th quarter of college, third year, just 21 credits shy of being a college graduate. Yea, college graduate. Two very scary words that will be used for me very soon. What’s troubling though is that as I prepare for the end, I am finding myself “coasting” to the end. You know what coasting is. When you begin to just go with the flow, do what asked and nothing more and reap the benefits of still getting things done. Well, I find myself doing that very thing this quarter. I don’t know when it started nor can I find a way to stop it but it’s kinda weird right now.
I like all my classes this quarter. Literally, all of them. Yea, I complain about some of them, whether it be length, amount of reading, lecture time, etc… but I truly believe every class this quarter is making a better member of society and a better broadcast journalist. So I really do not why I feel this way. One of my classes is piano. Needless to say, no extra work is really needed. I just show up for class every day and play what’s on the paper. Yea, I should be practicing for future pages but why do that when not doing that is getting me by just fine? Same goes with another one of my classes. It’s called Broadcast News Seminar but I like to just think of it as a class where we just sit and discuss different aspects of the TV industry. Of course, there are readings here that I periodically read but I am finding that whether I read or not, we stray away from the topic and after about ten minutes, it doesn’t even matter if you read or not.
Aight, I know what you are thinking? Why the hell do you care Matt? You’re getting paid to go to school, you’re taking classes that are apparently not hard and you are in the middle of your favorite month. I understand that but this is college and I’ve always has this feeling that it should be tough. It should make me study every night. It should drive me to the library for late night studying. I even thought that as graduation approached, the going would get tough and the tough would get going to study. Instead, graduation is approaching and I find myself bored every night, watching dumb MTV shows that don’t even come close to appealing to 20-yr old black guys like me or playing Sonic the Hedgehog for only about 30 min since I can’t get past the 3rd stage.
So what should I do to get these coasting feeling out? I don’t know. Some could say that I should just assert myself more and start working harder in these classes. I would do that but I am perfectly content with a B or higher. I no longer strive for A’s. Grades are important but what you get out of the class means so much more in my opinion. Some might say maybe you need a challenge. I disagree with that too. I take on a challenge of waking up everyday already. I also still work two jobs and volunteer at a TV station so whatever challenge I take on probably just wears me out instead of fires me up. Maybe what I need is a wake-up call. You know, something like a big F on a paper that motivates me to get focused. Maybe a pop quiz that throws me for a loop. I don’t know what I need but I know one thing: I am getting by this quarter without breaking a sweat.
I’m not bragging. I am truly concerned. Is this education working, as in I’ve learned so much, I can learn no more? Am I not putting enough emphasis on my academics, as in giving more time to tours, IM and TV stuff than working on class stuff? It could be a variety of reasons so I don’t wanna find the answer now because again, the headache may come back. But I will say this. If college begins to turn into senior year of high school, then yikes…I’m in for a good final three quarters.
I have no advice here, nor do I think this blog entry was necessary. This was simply my way of blowing off a little steam. Now that I have written it though, I think I feel a little better because now that I’ve talked in a circle, I think I know why this “coasting” is occurring. It’s called getting into that quarterly flow. A flow that keeps you moving without too many hiccups. Yea, that’s it. I’m just in a flow. I’m in a zone and now that I look back, I strive for this at the beginning of every quarter. Maybe this quarter, I just didn’t expect it.
Look out for my V-Day blog entry regarding V-Day and other material. It is sure not to disappoint. And by that, I mean there will be probably be some responses to my take on the dreaded holiday. Until then, HAKUNA MATATA
Alright people, don’t get me wrong here when I write this entry. I just have to write this out since well, keeping it in my head sometimes makes my head hurt (though that might be Hirz’s blog)
So I am in my 8th quarter of college, third year, just 21 credits shy of being a college graduate. Yea, college graduate. Two very scary words that will be used for me very soon. What’s troubling though is that as I prepare for the end, I am finding myself “coasting” to the end. You know what coasting is. When you begin to just go with the flow, do what asked and nothing more and reap the benefits of still getting things done. Well, I find myself doing that very thing this quarter. I don’t know when it started nor can I find a way to stop it but it’s kinda weird right now.
I like all my classes this quarter. Literally, all of them. Yea, I complain about some of them, whether it be length, amount of reading, lecture time, etc… but I truly believe every class this quarter is making a better member of society and a better broadcast journalist. So I really do not why I feel this way. One of my classes is piano. Needless to say, no extra work is really needed. I just show up for class every day and play what’s on the paper. Yea, I should be practicing for future pages but why do that when not doing that is getting me by just fine? Same goes with another one of my classes. It’s called Broadcast News Seminar but I like to just think of it as a class where we just sit and discuss different aspects of the TV industry. Of course, there are readings here that I periodically read but I am finding that whether I read or not, we stray away from the topic and after about ten minutes, it doesn’t even matter if you read or not.
Aight, I know what you are thinking? Why the hell do you care Matt? You’re getting paid to go to school, you’re taking classes that are apparently not hard and you are in the middle of your favorite month. I understand that but this is college and I’ve always has this feeling that it should be tough. It should make me study every night. It should drive me to the library for late night studying. I even thought that as graduation approached, the going would get tough and the tough would get going to study. Instead, graduation is approaching and I find myself bored every night, watching dumb MTV shows that don’t even come close to appealing to 20-yr old black guys like me or playing Sonic the Hedgehog for only about 30 min since I can’t get past the 3rd stage.
So what should I do to get these coasting feeling out? I don’t know. Some could say that I should just assert myself more and start working harder in these classes. I would do that but I am perfectly content with a B or higher. I no longer strive for A’s. Grades are important but what you get out of the class means so much more in my opinion. Some might say maybe you need a challenge. I disagree with that too. I take on a challenge of waking up everyday already. I also still work two jobs and volunteer at a TV station so whatever challenge I take on probably just wears me out instead of fires me up. Maybe what I need is a wake-up call. You know, something like a big F on a paper that motivates me to get focused. Maybe a pop quiz that throws me for a loop. I don’t know what I need but I know one thing: I am getting by this quarter without breaking a sweat.
I’m not bragging. I am truly concerned. Is this education working, as in I’ve learned so much, I can learn no more? Am I not putting enough emphasis on my academics, as in giving more time to tours, IM and TV stuff than working on class stuff? It could be a variety of reasons so I don’t wanna find the answer now because again, the headache may come back. But I will say this. If college begins to turn into senior year of high school, then yikes…I’m in for a good final three quarters.
I have no advice here, nor do I think this blog entry was necessary. This was simply my way of blowing off a little steam. Now that I have written it though, I think I feel a little better because now that I’ve talked in a circle, I think I know why this “coasting” is occurring. It’s called getting into that quarterly flow. A flow that keeps you moving without too many hiccups. Yea, that’s it. I’m just in a flow. I’m in a zone and now that I look back, I strive for this at the beginning of every quarter. Maybe this quarter, I just didn’t expect it.
Look out for my V-Day blog entry regarding V-Day and other material. It is sure not to disappoint. And by that, I mean there will be probably be some responses to my take on the dreaded holiday. Until then, HAKUNA MATATA
Friday, January 26, 2007
THE ART OF ARGUMENT
There are many things I love in life. I love my family, I love my friends, I love the Buckeyes and boy, do I love a good argument. Of course there are other things that could easily be on this list. I mean, I am a college student so I do love the weekend, the house parties, the chill nights and the overall good times. But there’s something about a good argument that really gets me going.
I don’t know when this love for arguments began but I would assume it was during high school. Why during high school? Well, let’s just say I didn’t agree with the teachings of my high school, specifically my religion class. If you didn’t know, I went to a Catholic school and by no means am I Catholic. So when I started feeling like I was slowly being converted into a Catholic, I started to stop agreeing and start forming an opinion that would be COMPLETELY opposite than the norm. Now I didn’t go denying God (I’m very much a Christian) or condemning Catholics and Catholicism (Many of my friends are Catholic) but I did begin to argue with others about trivial things such as why is the Virgin Mary so important and why do you all stand and sit so much during Mass? (I still think Catholics need to make up their damn minds on that one)
So anyways, the arguing began and ever since I’ve started, I’ve run with it. I’ve always told people that I could argue that the sky isn’t blue and ten minutes later, having you doubt if it actually is. Now, I don’t think I’m THAT good but I’ve gotten pretty good at it. But why? Because I manipulate things like no other. I’m pretty sure if I did a study on the arguments that I have, I’d probably find that I lie 5-10 times within the argument in an effort to make my point. I normally don’t condone lying but when you’re trying to win an argument, it can sometimes be necessary to get the other person doubting themselves.
My favorite way of manipulating is spewing out facts that aren’t close to being true. Yet if you cite one study or one game 15 years ago, no one is willing to call you out because they don’t wanna fear being wrong. A lot of people take pride in arguments so every word must be perfect. Myself, I just enjoy doing it so I could care less if my words are accurate. It’s not hard to correct yourself. Just say you slipped or that wasn’t the way I wanted to word it. That way, you can retract a statement that would’ve put you on a slippery slope to losing the argument and then change it to a winning one-liner that takes out the opposing party at the knees.
The great thing also about arguments is the variety of arguments you can have. From politics to sports, girls to reality shows, they can be funny or serious and last for minutes, hours, and even days. They can take place on-line, on the phone and in person (always the best). Most importantly though, they require you to think quickly and on your feet. There’s no time for long pauses (a sign of weakness) or quoting (shows you actually did research). It’s all about what you know OR what you can get the other person to think that you know.
Now in high school, I pretty much dominated most arguments. I had some great sports arguments with some friends who were just so bull-headed or lacked good arguing capabilities that they either said I won or just stopped because they knew they were out-manned. Then, I hit college and well, things got a little tougher. People were sharp and knew their stuff. I kept getting called out on my arguments. I met sports fans who had been watching as long as I have. I had met people who genuinely just knew more but most importantly, I began to lose my edge because I didn’t want to argue with the new people I had just met. See, some people think my arguments are a sign of hatred or anger towards that person. Instead, my sarcasm and want to argue is my way of saying I respect you as not only a friend but as a quality debater.
As I got to know people, I learned something else. Your closest friends will always be the ones who have the best counter arguments. What sucks is that here in Athens, the arguments that I would love to have everyday come few and far between. My best friends from home are, well home. My other friend went back to his home. That really only leaves me with one true friend who can argue with the best of them. So far, we’ve tussled over tables, girls and basketball rules. Each argument has been good and kept me fresh for when I replace Mike Wilbon on PTI. Plus, the great thing about close friends is that they are not afraid to tell you that you are dead wrong or afraid to hurt your feelings. That’s why I truly miss the great arguments with the friends from/at home.
So for anyone who reads this post, don’t be afraid to throw a good argument my way. It can be dumb or serious. It can deal with any topic. It can go as long as it wants or you bail on it at any point. I don’t really care. I just know that I look for arguments wherever I go (kinda like girlfriends too). So if you’re up for the challenge, bring it. And trust, I’m ready because I’m pretty sure the sky is looking more and more green every day
There are many things I love in life. I love my family, I love my friends, I love the Buckeyes and boy, do I love a good argument. Of course there are other things that could easily be on this list. I mean, I am a college student so I do love the weekend, the house parties, the chill nights and the overall good times. But there’s something about a good argument that really gets me going.
I don’t know when this love for arguments began but I would assume it was during high school. Why during high school? Well, let’s just say I didn’t agree with the teachings of my high school, specifically my religion class. If you didn’t know, I went to a Catholic school and by no means am I Catholic. So when I started feeling like I was slowly being converted into a Catholic, I started to stop agreeing and start forming an opinion that would be COMPLETELY opposite than the norm. Now I didn’t go denying God (I’m very much a Christian) or condemning Catholics and Catholicism (Many of my friends are Catholic) but I did begin to argue with others about trivial things such as why is the Virgin Mary so important and why do you all stand and sit so much during Mass? (I still think Catholics need to make up their damn minds on that one)
So anyways, the arguing began and ever since I’ve started, I’ve run with it. I’ve always told people that I could argue that the sky isn’t blue and ten minutes later, having you doubt if it actually is. Now, I don’t think I’m THAT good but I’ve gotten pretty good at it. But why? Because I manipulate things like no other. I’m pretty sure if I did a study on the arguments that I have, I’d probably find that I lie 5-10 times within the argument in an effort to make my point. I normally don’t condone lying but when you’re trying to win an argument, it can sometimes be necessary to get the other person doubting themselves.
My favorite way of manipulating is spewing out facts that aren’t close to being true. Yet if you cite one study or one game 15 years ago, no one is willing to call you out because they don’t wanna fear being wrong. A lot of people take pride in arguments so every word must be perfect. Myself, I just enjoy doing it so I could care less if my words are accurate. It’s not hard to correct yourself. Just say you slipped or that wasn’t the way I wanted to word it. That way, you can retract a statement that would’ve put you on a slippery slope to losing the argument and then change it to a winning one-liner that takes out the opposing party at the knees.
The great thing also about arguments is the variety of arguments you can have. From politics to sports, girls to reality shows, they can be funny or serious and last for minutes, hours, and even days. They can take place on-line, on the phone and in person (always the best). Most importantly though, they require you to think quickly and on your feet. There’s no time for long pauses (a sign of weakness) or quoting (shows you actually did research). It’s all about what you know OR what you can get the other person to think that you know.
Now in high school, I pretty much dominated most arguments. I had some great sports arguments with some friends who were just so bull-headed or lacked good arguing capabilities that they either said I won or just stopped because they knew they were out-manned. Then, I hit college and well, things got a little tougher. People were sharp and knew their stuff. I kept getting called out on my arguments. I met sports fans who had been watching as long as I have. I had met people who genuinely just knew more but most importantly, I began to lose my edge because I didn’t want to argue with the new people I had just met. See, some people think my arguments are a sign of hatred or anger towards that person. Instead, my sarcasm and want to argue is my way of saying I respect you as not only a friend but as a quality debater.
As I got to know people, I learned something else. Your closest friends will always be the ones who have the best counter arguments. What sucks is that here in Athens, the arguments that I would love to have everyday come few and far between. My best friends from home are, well home. My other friend went back to his home. That really only leaves me with one true friend who can argue with the best of them. So far, we’ve tussled over tables, girls and basketball rules. Each argument has been good and kept me fresh for when I replace Mike Wilbon on PTI. Plus, the great thing about close friends is that they are not afraid to tell you that you are dead wrong or afraid to hurt your feelings. That’s why I truly miss the great arguments with the friends from/at home.
So for anyone who reads this post, don’t be afraid to throw a good argument my way. It can be dumb or serious. It can deal with any topic. It can go as long as it wants or you bail on it at any point. I don’t really care. I just know that I look for arguments wherever I go (kinda like girlfriends too). So if you’re up for the challenge, bring it. And trust, I’m ready because I’m pretty sure the sky is looking more and more green every day
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
525,600 Minutes
Damn, 2007 kind of just crept up on me. I mean, it was a long creep, 365 days to be exact, but it did just show up all the sudden. After a new year, I always find myself looking back at the year that was and comparing to other years of my life. Of course, this is an inexact science. It is impossible for me to compare years to each other. I can barely compare months. Yet, I find myself doing this, see if the year measured up. So without further adieu, here’s my synopsis of the year 2006 in the life of Matt Barnes.
The year 2006 was a fun one and for many reasons. New friends, new experiences, and new achievements just like every year should have. This year thought, I went through a gamut of emotions. Ohio State got it kicked off on a good note, beating Notre Dame in a Fiesta Bowl that I will always remember as the one that always gave me one-up on my roommates. Ohio State basketball also played a big role in the excitement of the year. How about Big Ten championships for both the men and women? Not too shabby. Oh, and then don’t forget to add the 12-0 Buckeyes this year.
But enough about the Buckeyes, how bout them Bobcats? Yea, for once, I can brag about my own university’s football team. An amazing 2-0 start quickly soured to a 2-3 meltdown. But then, Frank Solich turned into a magician, guiding the Cats to 7 straight victories and a MAC East division title. I still think I’m dreaming this one up. Trust me, this team is not good. Not good at all but give this team some credit. It takes determination to be that bad and yet win nine games. Mad props to the team, Solich and the fans that continue to believe we will beat Southern Miss and actually establish a winning program. I’m hoping but let’s just say, we’ve got a better chance of pulling out troops in Iraq than have a consistent winning football program at OU.
Things at OU were amazing this year. Ranging from my fun History of Baseball Classes to my Officiating Classes, it wasn’t the most academically challenging but who the hell cares. At work, things went smooth. I was promoted from PA to Supervisor to Student Director, all in a four month period in Intramural Sports. I was offered the Gridiron Glory host position and then not 20 minutes later, offered a position as a PreCollege advisor. Even being a tour guide had its great moments, capped by my first ever e-mail from someone on my tour, thanking me for what I did.
Let me elaborate real quick on two of those items. PreCollege (or PC2K6) quite possibly was the best experience I have ever gone through. It kind of felt like summer camp, but with alcohol and open sections lists involved. It was exciting at times, frustrating at times, and exhiliarating at times. It put me through a wide range of emotions every day. It started with a rush of a new group of students, wide-eyed and ready for their college experience, as I once was. Then, it turned into frustration and patience as the list of open classes shrunk and the tour in the hot sun was full of complaints for tired teenagers. But it always worked out in the end, when I could take a big sigh of relief every time a student signed my poster and walked out with a schedule. And the cycle began all over again. The other was Gridiron Glory. If you watched the show, you saw how great of a product it was. Yes, I said great because this year’s show was. I was privileged to be a part of that show, let alone host it. It captured high school football in Southeast Ohio amazingly and after a week of hard work making sure it went perfect, it was great to see the product go on the air and look so damn good. Not to mention all the compliments I have received from the community about the show just makes it well worth the nights at the stations until 3am. I am so glad that 2007 has both the show and PC2K7 in it because it gives a LOT to look forward too.
And then there were those surprises. Fun times watching George Mason making their Final Four run, the thrill of watching the terribly hilarious TV Movie “Bird Flu in America”, the uncovering of America’s next great teen show “Falcon Beach”, getting 5 (should’ve been 6) officials to the National Tournament, and probably the best, reconnecting with one of my best friends in preschool by going to watch the Blue Jackets beat the Red Wings. And the seats weren’t that bad.
But with highlights also comes lowlights. This year some true ones. The consistent one has been my pathetic love life. Yea, this one has been redundant but you know, Hakuna Matata. Life goes on. That was just one of many disappointments ranging from a mediocre performance at a basketball extramural tournament, the loss in the Turkey Bowl and the rather boring Halloween 2006 in Athens (slowly losing its luster). The sports teams didn’t really get me excited as the Blue Jackets and Indians failed to make the postseason (again) while the Pacers were bounced in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
The two that truly stand out were my first-ever arrest and the loss of my friend’s mom. The arrest was well dumb. Shouldn’t have happened, plain and simple. The entire situation could have been prevented with a payment to AEP. But things happen and well, so do dumb decisions as this one was. I still laugh at the situation and how things ended up playing out but at the time, trust me, there was nothing comical. The disappointment seen in my friend’s faces was enough for me to want to punch myself. I felt sick in my stomach. Seeing their parents was even worse. I regret that event every day not because I got arrested, but because I roped all my friends into it as well. The other event, Mrs. Bierley’s passing, hit me even harder than the arrest. I have close connections with my friends and even their parents. So when I heard what happened, I immediately wanted to cry. I knew that she was in a better place but I’m not gonna lie, having her here was a blast and I wish she still was. She will always be missed but she will also always be remembered through her daughters, my friends.
And now, it’s time to compare. Again, an impossible feat. If I had to choose, I would honestly put this past year right up near the top. I met a TON of new friends that I hope will always have my back no matter where I go in life. I experienced things that I never thought I would such as getting arrested, hosting a football show and impacting the lives of first-year students. But above all, I achieved a lot. This is why 2006 was so nice. It started in Pensacola after a disappointing weekend for me officiating at the National Tournament. 2006 ended also in Pensacola, but this time, I was an All-American, one of the top 16 officials in the nation. That’s the kind of year it has been. Ups and downs but no matter how down it has become, it has always come back up. So now it’s time to look forward to 2007 and what it will bring. The obvious are GG2K7, PC2K7 and my 21st birthday. And no matter how bad or good 2007 is, I know that I’ll be able to look back on it when 2008 hits when I’m in New Orleans celebrating yet another new year. Life has taken me places I never thought I would go and you know, I’m sure enjoying the ride.
Damn, 2007 kind of just crept up on me. I mean, it was a long creep, 365 days to be exact, but it did just show up all the sudden. After a new year, I always find myself looking back at the year that was and comparing to other years of my life. Of course, this is an inexact science. It is impossible for me to compare years to each other. I can barely compare months. Yet, I find myself doing this, see if the year measured up. So without further adieu, here’s my synopsis of the year 2006 in the life of Matt Barnes.
The year 2006 was a fun one and for many reasons. New friends, new experiences, and new achievements just like every year should have. This year thought, I went through a gamut of emotions. Ohio State got it kicked off on a good note, beating Notre Dame in a Fiesta Bowl that I will always remember as the one that always gave me one-up on my roommates. Ohio State basketball also played a big role in the excitement of the year. How about Big Ten championships for both the men and women? Not too shabby. Oh, and then don’t forget to add the 12-0 Buckeyes this year.
But enough about the Buckeyes, how bout them Bobcats? Yea, for once, I can brag about my own university’s football team. An amazing 2-0 start quickly soured to a 2-3 meltdown. But then, Frank Solich turned into a magician, guiding the Cats to 7 straight victories and a MAC East division title. I still think I’m dreaming this one up. Trust me, this team is not good. Not good at all but give this team some credit. It takes determination to be that bad and yet win nine games. Mad props to the team, Solich and the fans that continue to believe we will beat Southern Miss and actually establish a winning program. I’m hoping but let’s just say, we’ve got a better chance of pulling out troops in Iraq than have a consistent winning football program at OU.
Things at OU were amazing this year. Ranging from my fun History of Baseball Classes to my Officiating Classes, it wasn’t the most academically challenging but who the hell cares. At work, things went smooth. I was promoted from PA to Supervisor to Student Director, all in a four month period in Intramural Sports. I was offered the Gridiron Glory host position and then not 20 minutes later, offered a position as a PreCollege advisor. Even being a tour guide had its great moments, capped by my first ever e-mail from someone on my tour, thanking me for what I did.
Let me elaborate real quick on two of those items. PreCollege (or PC2K6) quite possibly was the best experience I have ever gone through. It kind of felt like summer camp, but with alcohol and open sections lists involved. It was exciting at times, frustrating at times, and exhiliarating at times. It put me through a wide range of emotions every day. It started with a rush of a new group of students, wide-eyed and ready for their college experience, as I once was. Then, it turned into frustration and patience as the list of open classes shrunk and the tour in the hot sun was full of complaints for tired teenagers. But it always worked out in the end, when I could take a big sigh of relief every time a student signed my poster and walked out with a schedule. And the cycle began all over again. The other was Gridiron Glory. If you watched the show, you saw how great of a product it was. Yes, I said great because this year’s show was. I was privileged to be a part of that show, let alone host it. It captured high school football in Southeast Ohio amazingly and after a week of hard work making sure it went perfect, it was great to see the product go on the air and look so damn good. Not to mention all the compliments I have received from the community about the show just makes it well worth the nights at the stations until 3am. I am so glad that 2007 has both the show and PC2K7 in it because it gives a LOT to look forward too.
And then there were those surprises. Fun times watching George Mason making their Final Four run, the thrill of watching the terribly hilarious TV Movie “Bird Flu in America”, the uncovering of America’s next great teen show “Falcon Beach”, getting 5 (should’ve been 6) officials to the National Tournament, and probably the best, reconnecting with one of my best friends in preschool by going to watch the Blue Jackets beat the Red Wings. And the seats weren’t that bad.
But with highlights also comes lowlights. This year some true ones. The consistent one has been my pathetic love life. Yea, this one has been redundant but you know, Hakuna Matata. Life goes on. That was just one of many disappointments ranging from a mediocre performance at a basketball extramural tournament, the loss in the Turkey Bowl and the rather boring Halloween 2006 in Athens (slowly losing its luster). The sports teams didn’t really get me excited as the Blue Jackets and Indians failed to make the postseason (again) while the Pacers were bounced in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
The two that truly stand out were my first-ever arrest and the loss of my friend’s mom. The arrest was well dumb. Shouldn’t have happened, plain and simple. The entire situation could have been prevented with a payment to AEP. But things happen and well, so do dumb decisions as this one was. I still laugh at the situation and how things ended up playing out but at the time, trust me, there was nothing comical. The disappointment seen in my friend’s faces was enough for me to want to punch myself. I felt sick in my stomach. Seeing their parents was even worse. I regret that event every day not because I got arrested, but because I roped all my friends into it as well. The other event, Mrs. Bierley’s passing, hit me even harder than the arrest. I have close connections with my friends and even their parents. So when I heard what happened, I immediately wanted to cry. I knew that she was in a better place but I’m not gonna lie, having her here was a blast and I wish she still was. She will always be missed but she will also always be remembered through her daughters, my friends.
And now, it’s time to compare. Again, an impossible feat. If I had to choose, I would honestly put this past year right up near the top. I met a TON of new friends that I hope will always have my back no matter where I go in life. I experienced things that I never thought I would such as getting arrested, hosting a football show and impacting the lives of first-year students. But above all, I achieved a lot. This is why 2006 was so nice. It started in Pensacola after a disappointing weekend for me officiating at the National Tournament. 2006 ended also in Pensacola, but this time, I was an All-American, one of the top 16 officials in the nation. That’s the kind of year it has been. Ups and downs but no matter how down it has become, it has always come back up. So now it’s time to look forward to 2007 and what it will bring. The obvious are GG2K7, PC2K7 and my 21st birthday. And no matter how bad or good 2007 is, I know that I’ll be able to look back on it when 2008 hits when I’m in New Orleans celebrating yet another new year. Life has taken me places I never thought I would go and you know, I’m sure enjoying the ride.
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