Frank Caliendo Does Jon Gruden and More

ESPN is easily tops for me, not just for sports but also for fun in general.  I first saw Frank Caliendo a couple of weeks ago, and was rolling of the floor laughing at his impersonation of Jon Gruden.  In conceiving of light-hearted sports stuff for this week, I head over to YouTube and found more from Caliendo.

Below are outtakes from this segment:
  

Actually it looked a little more like a `Unicorn 2 Xbox Cowchocula!

Jon and Jay Gruden hang out, and talk some shop, courtesy of Caliendo.  What's more, we meet up with the Gruden family.

This dude is good.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Kazuya (aka Yoyo Baby) Murata is Boss!

I just saw the video of this 6-year old kid on the ESPN Highly Questionable, and marveled at both his skill and his confidence.

Yoyo Baby competed in the Asia Pacific Yoyo Championship last year.  It looks to be a blast.  

Yoyos were very popular in the Philippines when I was a kid myself, and managed to do Walk the Dog and Rock a Baby after a lot of tries.  

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

(3) Steve Nash is not the only Issue

In the third episode of an exclusive Grantland series chronicling Steve Nash's trying season with the Lakers, he reveals his feelings about the media members and fans who are calling for his retirement, questioning his motives, and accusing him of being greedy.

The issue with Steve Nash is that he is not the only issue.  There is the team, and its future, to consider.  There is the chatter in the media, focusing on whatever it deems right to focus on, even if it misses the big picture and the complex issues inside its frames.  There is voice of the fans.

A heartfelt documentary like this isn't exactly new.  But what is new is its distribution online and the opportunity to watch it and comment on it, unlike years ago when it was all on TV and we couldn't speak to it.  These points, plus its very human drama, are what I really like about it.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

(2) Steve Nash Fights Father Time

In the second episode of 'The Finish Line,' an exclusive Grantland series chronicling Steve Nash's season, Nash battles his way back onto the court, celebrates his 40th birthday with a throwback performance against the 76ers, and faces the harsh reality that the Lakers may essentially end his career by exercising the stretch provision.

Father Time does indeed win all the time.  Like athletes, physical therapist Rick Celebrini is programmed to focus on what's possible and make it happen.  That there are no guarantees is absolutely right, certainly not as far as continued play is concerned.

So what is Nash to do or not to do?

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night. 

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night. 

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. 

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Do not go gentle into that good night is the famous villanelle by Dylan Thomas.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

(1) A Thing like Death for Steve Nash

The first episode in an exclusive Grantland series chronicling Steve Nash's return to the Lakers as the future Hall of Famer fights to save his NBA career and his 40th birthday looms [February 7th 1974].

 Retirement must be a thing like death for athletes, and approaching it akin to dying.  When Steve Nash speaks about feeling blocked, and slowed down, and troubled, he is speaking about a common and obvious reality.  Age blocks us, slows us down, and troubles us, if not now, then inevitably at some point in the future.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

The Life and Loss of Lacey Holsworth

Lacey Holsworth says Adreian Payne has been her best friend during her fight against [Neuroblastoma].

John Anderson [further] tells the story of eight-year-old Lacey Holsworth - in Lacey Holsworth's Relationship With Adreian Payne - who lost her battle with cancer Wednesday [April 9th] and had a deep bond with Michigan State forward Adreian Payne.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

UConn Men's and Women's Basketball, Beastly

UConn fans cheer on the lady Huskies

#UConn has swept the national title - that is, men's and women's - not once, but twice!  They are the only team in NCAA history to do so.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma & Co.

#UConn clearly has an all-around awesome basketball program: What's their secret?  Auriemma is one, and of course he's no secret.

Geno Auriemma and Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw

I thought we were playing the Miami Heat for a while - you guys are just that good.

A telling note from McGraw, in the post-game title loss.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Bulls Poised for a Bull Run in the Playoffs

Joakim Noah & Co. believe they can beat any team

There's no team playing hotter than the #Bulls, except for the#Spurs. 

(image credit)

The Bulls have the kind of defensive ability that overwhelms teams. They can impose their will on an opponent and break the spirit of different players. That's what they're going to have to lean on as the playoffs hit, and they know it.

Reference: Bulls believe they can beat any team.

(image credit)

"I think we have a good understanding of what goes into winning," [Coach Tom] Thibodeau said. "And we know if we defend and we rebound and we keep our turnovers down, we're going to be in position. And then, if we play inside out and we share it, we're capable of beating anyone, anywhere.

"But there's a lot that goes into it, and you got to be willing to do that night after night. And you have to make the commitment to the team. And you have to put everything you have into each and every day. And when you do that, it's amazing what can happen."

There is confidence and excitement that the Rose-less and Deng-less Bulls will make a deep run in the playoffs.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Tiger Woods Battles Injury and Record

(image credit)

Reference:  Tiger has back surgery.

Now we know how serious those back spasms were...

Reference:  Disappointing News for Tiger, Golf Fans.

How much will Tiger's absence impact viewership for the upcoming Master's and the business of golf?

It won't impact my viewership. I'm tired of the constant focus on Woods.

Well, so far, it's been a really interesting Masters! From birdie-birdie-birdie, right to bogey-bogey. Plus, Lefty playing ping-pong with himself, between bunkers. Augusta is a beast!

Nicklaus' 18-majors record is such an accomplishment, that even a healthy Tiger has a tough time breaking. http://t.co/iQnQjR6srD @espngolf
— sportsPond53 (@sportsPond53) April 2, 2014

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

What Cancer Reminds Even the Best of Athletes

Former Buffalo Bills QB Jim Kelly

Reference: 'Must Keep the Faith.'

Cancer reminds us that even the best of athletes is human, after all.  And were inviolably mortal.  

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD