Sam Gordon and Mates Playing Awesome Football

Toronto High Schooler Jaeden Washington has a touchdown run for the ages. Watch as he evades countless tacklers to POWER his way into the end zone.

Jaeden Washington must be Marshawn Lynch, Jr.  Like Sr., he was totally Beast Mode on this run.

I hope the Chicago Bears try a trick like this sometime, especially when players from the other team may be napping.

This is the official Sam Gordon video from Sportz Filmz. Sam is an amazing young football star. Her father came in studio and chose these plays to tell her story. Sam has now appeared on shows, including Superbowl XLVII, and continues to impress those she comes in contact with. We wish her continued success.

If you haven't seen little Sam Gordon play football, you haven't seen football, yet!

Sam Gordon joins "SportsCenter" to talk about being a football sensation, getting on a Wheaties Box, being a role model for girls and her favorite sport.

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

Ron Villejo, PhD

The Spiritual in "Legend of Bagger Vance"

The trick is to find your swing.  You lost your swing, so we got go to find it.  Now it's somewhere... in the harmony... of all that is... all that was... all that will be.

Oh, no, sir, it was just a moment ago.  Time for you to come on out the shadows, Junuh.  Time for you to choose.  Yes, you can.  But you ain't alone.  I'm right here with ya'.  I've been here all along.  Now play the game.  Your game.

Fix your eyes on Bobby Jones.  Look at his practice swing, almost like he's searching for something.  Then he finds it.  Watch how he settle hisself right into the middle of it.  Feel that focus.  He got a lot of shots he could choose from.  Duffs and tops and skulls.  There's only one shot that's in perfect harmony with the field.  One shot that's his, authentic shot, and that shot is gonna choose him.  There's a perfect shot out there tryin' to find each and every one of us.  All we got to do is get ourselves out of its way, let it choose us.  Can't see that flag as some dragon you got to slay.  You got to look with soft eyes.  See the place where the tides and the seasons and the turnin' of the Earth all come together.  Where everything that is, becomes one.  You got to seek that place with your soul, Junuh.  Seek it with your hands, don't think about it.  Feel it.  Your hands is wiser than your head ever gonna be.  Now I can't take you there, Junuh.  Just hopes I can help you find a way.  Just you, that ball, that flag.  And all you are.  

"The Legend of Bagger Vance" is one of my all-time favorite films, because it speaks to the essence, the spirit, and the poetry of golf.  Sports, in general, really.

Cycling is my sport, and I rode quite a lot when I lived in Dubai.  I have strong legs, and they generate a lot of power for me to out-sprint my younger mates.  But climbing even small hills was a struggle.  Still I was determined to get stronger and conquer my anxiety on those climbs, so I worked at it.

One time I had a peak experience, which frightened me for just a moment.  I was riding up a short climb, when I saw the ground level out below me.  I saw it shift from incline to flat, or at least I thought I saw it shift, as I powered the finish almost effortlessly.  I was astounded with how I rode on that climb.

Another time I was well-ensconced in our double pace line, speeding along at a fast clip.  Suddenly it felt quiet and slow.  It was as if I could hear the rhythmic purring of the bicycle gears.  At that speed I normally have to concentrate hard, not so much on riding per se, but on pacing my energy.  But on this occasion I actually had to slow down, or else I was going to run into the rider in front of me.  I was so astounded that I had to tell myself to slow down a handful of times.

Yet another time, a small group of friends and I were again in a double pace line, zipping at high speed.  I asked a friend if we were going downhill, and she said No.  Hmm, I thought to myself, we must have a tailwind, then. It was like that, all the way to our turn to lead the double pace line.  That's a tough position to be, because we have the face the wind head-on, while shielding others behind us.  My legs felt so ungodly strong, and I was going so fast, that later on my friends commended with "Nice pull."  Which meant they kept up behind me, but found it a bit tough.    

I've played golf only a few times, but I certainly have deep sense for what is going in these scenes from "The Legend of Bagger Vance."  

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

Ron Villejo, PhD

Devin Graham Goes Awesome Extreme Sports

Ever since I was a little kid I was borrowing my parents cameras to get the shot that no one else could... That resulted with several cameras busted.... I have continued this passion ever since! There was never any other option, it was destiny.true love :)

Reference: Adventures of Devin and other short stories.

Devin Graham was that little kid, and is now the filmmaker behind these just.freaking.awesome videos.  What the guys and gals do makes me want to do it, too.  Plus, as an aspiring filmmaker myself, I want to shoot videos the way he does as well.

“For the most part I’m a one-man crew,” he said. “I do everything but the music. Depending on what I’m filming, if I need other camera guys I’ll bring in other people.” 

According to Graham, finding the right subject is the easiest part of the process. What distinguishes the blockbuster videos uploaded to devinsupertramp from similar subjects that can’t get even 500 views is his painstaking attention to detail. “I take ideas that generally already exist and make them better,” he said. “I’m a perfectionist. I’ll put in 60, 70, 80 hours to edit a video and most people aren’t willing to do that.”

In fact, capturing the crazy, physical stunts that have become a hallmark of his films isn’t nearly as demanding as the time Graham puts in behind a computer screen. “What people don’t know is that most of the time, I’m at my computer editing. That’s the most physically draining thing.”

I thought spending 8 - 10 hours editing a 10-minute video was labor intensive, but Graham clearly hauls ass when it comes to tedious time spent in front of the screen.

You know you have something very special going, when even your behind-the-scenes videos go viral.  

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

Ron Villejo, PhD

Brandon Bollig Shows Patrick Kane How It's Done

You must have seen the Bourne and Mission Impossible espionage films.  Now here's the latest undercover agent uncovered, totally butt naked, so to speak, during one training session.  Agent B52 - Brandon Bollig, that is - shows everybody how it's done.

Notice his pre-stickhandling ritual. A little spitter on the blade does the trick.

See that sweet spin-o-rama in the second segment.  Agent B52 pivoting on that left skate, like an Olympic figure skater.  So he gets a little frustrated, when he flubs the segment.  Everyone gets a little frustrated, right?

Then he falls down to his knees, so what?  Best puck angel, like, ev.ver.

Dramatic sequence:  off-screen (pause).  Slip-sliding across, out of nowhere, like on a flat water slide.  Off-screen (pause).  

What's wrong with picking up the puck?  Nothing.  That's what I thought.  I propose ah.nother NHL rule change.     

Finally Agent B52 goes Paranormal Activity and all on us.

It's not like there are 100 pucks on the ice during a real hockey match.  There is only one:  Ergo Agent B52's stickhandling is perfection, I'd say.  Ergo unstoppable.

Patrick Kane is Agent K88, and you see his stickhandling needs a lot of work.  He does just fine in a hockey match, because there is only one puck.  But put two or more on the ice, and it's remedial hockey time, baby.

So he does good in one segment, that don't impress me much.  

Pick up the puck with his stick, meh.  A two-year old can do that.

Fire a mid-air wrister at the camera, fake.  Any YouTuber can do that.

Don a Superman cape to show off what he's got, in skills competition, puhleeze.

Agent K88, reporting for duty.  Step aside.  Yawn, next.

Up next, Joey the Junior Reporter goes Joey the Junior Stickhandler.  

Look for it.

Thank you for reading whatever, and don't let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Blackhawks: Game 2 vs Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning boasts the top two point-getters in the NHL last season:  Martin St. Louis (60) and Steven Stamkos (57).  So it was outstanding that the Hawks not only kept the Lightning scoreless over two periods, but also shut them down completely on shots-on-goal in the first period.

@NotCrawford @PureHockey_ Wow, seriously, you tracked that info down ... good job! I asked that Q earlier.
— sportsPond53 (@sportsPond53) October 6, 2013

Just six, in the second period.

@HawksTalkCSN Oh, man, I wanted the Crawford and the Hawks to have a perfect shutout (lol)!
— sportsPond53 (@sportsPond53) October 6, 2013

Game 2

October 5th 2013

ESPN Box Score

Patrick Kane scored from an impossible angle, up close, but that's just par for the course for him.

Nick Leddy must've had a good feel for the home ice boards, and Brandon Saad, who's off to a beastly start, was the recipient of a superb bounce.  

It was an awesome evening of sports, as the Bulls also opened their preseason with a game against the Pacers and #16 Northwestern had a tough battle with #4 Ohio State.

END OF PERIOD 2: #Blackhawks up 2-0 on goals by Kane, Saad. Also, #Northwestern up 20-13 at the half. (!) #MedillMafia
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) October 6, 2013

Wow I'm going bananas! Hawks are winning... Northwestern is leading #4 Ohio State and the Bulls won!
— Hawks: 1 Blues: 1 (@ChiSportsFan15) October 6, 2013

Moreover, because it was Saturday evening, I spent most of my time watching a movie with my family.  It was quite a disappointment, then, when I checked my Twitter feed at the end of the evening, to learn that the Hawks lost the game in a shootout (grrgh).

Results, for Chicago teams:  1 - 1 - 1 (Bulls - Wildcats - Hawks).

References

Lightning roar back against Blackhawks for first win

Lightning rally, beat Blackhawks in shootout

Photos: Lightning 3, Blackhawks 2 (SO)
Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

The Rebuilding Wreck that is the Cubs

Wrigley Field

Political and economic wrangling makes it difficult for Chairman Tom Ricketts to improve Wrigley Field.

When the Ricketts family announced details in January of its plan to pay for Wrigley Field renovations, the outlook they unveiled for the creaky stadium was as sunny as Anthony Rizzo's long-term future in the middle of the batting order: A new home clubhouse, renovated bathrooms, new ballpark restaurants and outfield ads to raise money.

Now the offseason looms with Rizzo's batting average hovering around .230 amid questions about his status as a key part of the team's rebuilding plan. And summerlong political fisticuffs over the ballpark repairs have left the team facing a different timeline than it projected at the Cubs Convention.

Reference:  Wrigley renovations in limbo.

Theo Epstein

President Theo Epstein either knows what he's doing, and we fans can expect a much better Cubs team in a a couple of years; or he doesn't really know what he's doing, and we end up with a team that falls in step with its long history of mediocrity (at best).

From the standpoint of business management, it's really questionable practice what Epstein is engineering.  He's often referenced their rebuilding plan vis-a-vis the Cubs poor play.  But what respectful team in any league openly rationalizes losing for the sake of rebuilding?  Losing not just for one, or even two, seasons, but over five years.  Seriously?  What reputable company chucks its existing products and services, which customers buy, for the sake of manufacturing better products and services in a few years.   

No matter how smart, confident and optimistic Epstein, there is simply no way for him, or anyone else for that matter, to ensure that a rebuilding plan will actually work out.  As in business, there is so much complexity and unpredictability in sports that the best senior managers can do is focus on winning in the present or at least in the near-term, not five years out. 

For sure, Cubs fans are sounding-off with their feet:

The Cubs saw their paid attendance drop for the fifth straight season, drawing the lowest numbers since 1998. They're assured of a second consecutive last-place finish under Epstein as they rebuild the organization from top to bottom.

Reference:  Epstein impressed by fans' commitment.

Dale Sveum

The day after the curtain closed mercifully on the 2013 season, Cubs manager Dale Sveum was no longer Cubs manager.  A 127 - 197 record will do that to anyone:  That's a whopping 70 games under .500, over two years.

How ever does he clean up that train wreck from his managerial docket?    

Joe Girardi

The Cubs' baseball operations department has only begun its search for the next manager and isn't locked into [Joe] Girardi - or anyone else - as its primary option. 

But sources say that Cubs ownership wants Girardi, is making a strong internal argument to hire him and intends to make him a serious contract offer, if given the chance.

Reference:  Cubs interested in Joe Girardi.

The likelihood of Girardi coming to manage the Cubs is small, as both he and the Cubs have stated their positions. But is he even all that much of a fit for the rebuilding wreck that the team is?

The Cubs need a Tom Thibodeau (Bulls) or a Marc Trestman (Bears):

• Both were first-time head coaches when they came onboard, and were relatively unknown.
• Both are "lifers" in their respective sport, and thus know how the game is played.
• Both clearly possess coaching talent and people management skills.

Such a manager would develop talent effectively, inculcate a winning attitude, and actually win games. What's more, he'd go on the cheap, as he builds his managerial career with the Cubs.

Girardi is not that man for the Cubs.

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

Ron Villejo, PhD

Blackhawks: Game 1 vs Capitals

I posted this last night on the Chicago Blackhawks Fans community on Google+.

In case you missed the banner raising, or if you just want to get teary-eyed all over again, I found the official video: from the player introductions and Cup skate-around, to the unfurling and raising of the banner, to the always stirring [Jim] Cornelison "Star Spangled Banner." 

An awesome production by the Hawks and the UC!

This is a keepsake video, Hawk fans :)

So the 2013 - 2014 was underway.  

I can only imagine what the Washington Capitals players were experiencing, sitting in the locker room and perhaps watching or listening to the banner-raising ceremony.  A year ago, the Hawks were the visiting team in Los Angeles, as the Kings celebrated their Stanley Cup championship one last time to open the 2012 - 2013 campaign.  

Look how much and how well that Kings' banner-raising motivated our Hawks!

Game 1

October 1st 2013

ESPN Box Score

Speaking of the Kings, coach Darryl Sutter talked about the importance of winning each period.  In this tight, high-scoring affair, the Hawks won two out of three.  More than enough to win the game.

Plus side

An amazing six different players scored, as our offense looked like it was in mid-season form.  The Hawks put a lot of pressure on Capitals goalie Braden Holtby, blitzing him with shots in the second period.  I was especially happy to see Brandon Bollig score his first ever NHL goal, to lead off this shootout, on opening night.  Corey Crawford gave up four goals, but three of them were on power play.  He was otherwise  superb on net, facing high-scoring Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Bäckström.  Finally, the defensive pair Niklas Hjalmarsson (two assists) and Johnny Oduya (game-winning goal) were a lights-out +4 for the night.  Meanwhile, Brandon Saad came away with the most points for the Hawks:  one goal, two assists.

Minus side

The weakest part of the Hawks stellar game is the power play, and it couldn't match that of the Capitals.  Our penalty kill team lost Michael Frolik, and obviously needed to reconstitute itself.  I thought their play was a bit tentative and the four-man box in front of Crawford was too tight.  The Hawks do not usually commit a lot of penalties, but tonight six different players spent time sitting out.  The Capitals cashed in on 3/6 chances, while the Hawks did so on 1/4 occasions.    

References

Blackhawks open defense with big 3rd period, top Capitals, with post-game analysis from Barry Melrose

Blackhawks raise banner, top Capitals in opener, with extended game highlights

Hawks rewind: 5 observations from Game 1

Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad scores from third

Photos:  Blackhawks season opener

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

Ron Villejo, PhD