just another skill
acquired during the pandemic
my son-in-law built an axe throwing target
as something to do for fun
showed me how to throw
i’m definitely not a natural
but kept trying
finally got it to stick
my aim is not great
which might make me
even more dangerous
but that’s for another day.
—
“an axe cuts through a forest not because of its size, but its endurance.”
– matshona dhliwayo
Michigan football wide receiver Ronnie Bell has an epic quarantine workout
Ronnie Bell had a unique routine while quarantining back home in Missouri.
To stay in shape, the Michigan receiver would go outside … and push his family’s Chevy Tahoe around the block.
“I’ve been pushing the cars with my little brothers,” Bell told MGoBlue’s Ed Kengerski. “We’ll take the car outside and put it in neutral and just push it around the neighborhood. “They push the little Lexus and I push the Chevy Tahoe.”
Like many of his teammates, Bell went home for a spell after the coronavirus outbreak forced Michigan to cancel in-person classes and athletic activities, including the Wolverines’ spring practices.
“We were probably a week out from spring ball before everything happened,” he said. “Just kind of had to shift mindsets from getting ready, mentally, for spring ball, getting all excited for spring ball, and then having that taken away from you. You’ve got to adjust and adapt to your different circumstances.”
Bell, who is majoring in creative writing, says the shutdown made his academic life more difficult, as it prevented him from participating in office hours with his professors. But he did appreciate the opportunity to go home and spend time with his family, calling the experience “the best thing about” quarantine.
Bell is back in Ann Arbor, where he lives with running back Hassan Haskins and linebacker Cam McGrone.
Does he miss football? “Of course.”
“(I miss) just being around the guys and being around the facility with all the coaches,” Bell said. “Everything about it. You don’t realize how much you were going to miss it until you get it completely taken away from you.”
For now, Bell and his teammates have connected with each other and the coaching staff through Zoom. He says the team has tried to install the offense as best it can through virtual meetings.
Bell, who had 48 catches for 758 yards and a touchdown in 2019, has been watching film on a consistent basis in hopes of improving upon his breakout sophomore year. He says he has gone over film of himself looking at situations in which he could’ve done “something different” or “something more.” He is hoping football will return in the near future.
“Everybody’s just unbelievably excited,” Bell said. “You could tell everybody was just getting antsy and itchy, just to get back to it. Everybody’s on edge because nobody really knows when everything will somewhat go back to normal.
—
“whatever I engage in, I must push inordinately.”
-andrew carnegie
—
credits: orion sang, detroit free press, ed kengerski, mgoblue.com
‘ESPN to televise stone skipping competition from Mackinac Island. And I’m not kidding.’
– d.m.
—
“all sports for all people.”
*Pierre de Coubertin
—
*Charles Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin (French) 1863 – 1937, (also known as Pierre de Coubertin and Baron de Coubertin) was a French educator and historian, founder of the International Olympic Committee, and its second President.
—
credits: dave millar, roger priebe, mackinac island dockporters association
Mackinac Island, Michigan, USA – Spring 2020
to say that the detroit lions
have not played like a top tier team in a long time
is an understatement.
I found this display
in the middle of a big box hardware store
with no explanation
and loved the artistic statement it made.
this still somewhat hopeful
and ever loyal fan
has been waiting quite a long time for a win.
that is strong and that is funny.
—
“i’m a hopeful cynic.”
-tracy chapman
first game of the year
and lots of excitement buzzing around town
most everyone embraces it
even the new arrivals on campus
on sorority/frat row
and the car wash
that stays open and works
while also hosting tailgaters
complete with
buses, games, food, and mini bar
now that’s team spirit.
—
“you are either supporting the vision or supporting division”
― saji ijiyemi
mama hangs on tight
as she
takes her
baby chicks
off to
master
their moves
their kicks
their spins
their control
as they
jump and skip
through the city
over and under
everything
in their way
and
they can’t wait
to
unleash their power
so much energy
harnessed here
—
the speed of the boss is the speed of the team.
– lee iacocca
i’m not quite sure how, but i’m quite sure it somehow happened.
in the end, that turtle’s (or terrapin, as some prefer), hard shell refused to let a wolverine break through, and hung on for the victory in our recent matchup here in my very own hometown of ann arbor.
as promised in my wager with fellow blogger, a man who writes about sports and entertainment, rival and friend, mark b. – here is the fight song of the winner in the battle between my michigan wolverines and his maryland terrapins. you may not recognize me as the singer, but i like to surprise, just like those terrapins. what say you, mark b.?
here is the link to mark b’s always entertaining blog, even when he has won and is gloating…
and congrats to you and your turtles, mark. well-played.
University of Maryland
Fight Song
Fight, fight, fight for Maryland,
Honor now Her name again,
Push up the score, keep on fighting for more,
For Maryland, GO TERPS!
And we will fight, fight, fight for terrapins,
Keep on fighting ’till we win.
So sing out our song as we go marching along,
To victory!!!
—
Words and music by Ralph Davis, Class of 1941
copyright 1941
by the University of Maryland Student Government Association
as i watched team u.s.a. hold their ground tonight against portugal
it reminded me of where i was 20 years ago.
it was 1994
and somehow
i talked my boss where i was an advertising intern during the day,
and my boss at the hotel where i worked as a cocktail waitress at night,
and my professors where i was taking classes at all hours,
and my ex-husband who i shared my daughter-time with,
into agreeing to work around my special schedule for a few weeks.
i applied to work at the 1994 fifa world cup here in detroit.
4 matches would be played on my turf.
and i told fifa i would love to do it
before i had negotiated any time off
but
i knew it would be a once in a lifetime extraordinary experience
and that i would find a way to do it.
—
my job was to work in press operations in the media center.
helping the press with credentials, schedules, seats. access and information.
and then
it became a reality.
we were taught about the nuances of soccer
the role of the press
how to deal with the passionate fans
and the customs and languages of the countries participating
learning helpful things like,
‘if a russian offers you a shot of vodka, it’s an insult to say no, so you’ll have to find a diplomatic way to do so.’
this was our transportation around the pontiac silverdome lot
where we met many enthusiastic fans along the way
and also
interesting press from all around the world.
on my first day,
a photojournalist
based in hong kong
working for the french press
of dutch and italian descent
walked in.
he was smiling
as i gave him his credentials,
answered his questions
and told him to enjoy the games.
later that night
i left the media center
and turned back into
a cocktail waitress.
as i approached a table
and a man at the table turned around
i saw that it was the journalist i had met earlier in the day.
we were surprised to see each other again
and he told me some of the press corps were staying at my hotel.
and i told him that i worked there on some nights.
very, very small world.
and we parted ways when his group left for the night.
each day at the world cup was a new adventure
i was able to see the matches
and enjoy the frenzied air of competition and excitement.
and many times
out of 78,000 people
the journo and i kept crossing paths.
between his schedule and mine
and ever changing locations
and job commitments
and no cell phones
and no computer
we kept trying to set up a time and place
to meet away from the stadium
when neither of us was working
to have a real conversation.
finally
it was his last night here
and the final match in detroit was being played.
i was finished in the media tent for the day
and we planned to meet at a local bar
after he filed his report.
i went to the bar
and found the brazilian fans there celebrating
it was total madness and fun and frolic
and then
the police came
and shut down the bar
for the first time
in history.
the brazilians’ exuberant enthusiasm
had somehow overflowed
to the outside
and they were dancing
a samba line
down woodward avenue
a major thoroughfare in the detroit area.
the bar was done for the night
and the crowd dispersed
and we never were able to find each other that night
we had no backup plan
for a place to meet
and we went our separate ways
armed with addresses
and the beginning of a friendship.
and i went back to my jobs/school/life
and he continued on with his assignments
and flew back to hong kong.
mp on assignment in new guinea
—
and we began to write letters
and we have been pen pals for 20 years now
and we send hand-written letters
and postcards
back and forth from all over the world
and we’ve gone through life together on paper
and stayed friends
who never dated
and maybe one day
we’ll find ourselves in the same country once more
at the same time.
and we can continue our conversation.
There is no distance too far between friends, for friendship gives wings to the heart.
– author unknown
patrons of third street in detroit go nuts for a world cup goal by the red, white and blue.
—
‘The applause is a celebration not only of the actors but also of the audience.
It constitutes a shared moment of delight.’
John Charles Polanyi
—
photo image: Hell Yeah Detrroit
it’s world cup time and team oz is ready.
these guys seem pretty unruffled.
and who needs shorts down under?
best of luck to team u.s.a.
let the games begin!
—
I say if you’re going to take a chance on something, you just go full balls to the wall.
Toby Keith
—
image credit: the kangaroo sanctuary Alice Springs
