Optimism and Pride

I'll dispense with the Pride part first.  My daughter's Cross Country team had their banquet last night and she received an award as the girl's team Most Improved Runner, which entails much more than just improving in times during the year.  In her first year of running cross country, she went from a shy, quiet girl in the second pack to a happy,  out-going girl running with the Big Dogs.  I couldn't be more proud, which is to say I have tempted someone upstairs with one of the seven deadly sins. I've also had gluttony covered for quite some time too!  I promise I will be good from here on out.

Optimism is what Coach Groves is extolling in the wake of the worst scandal in the history of sports in America, and I'm really happy to hear of it.  Director of Youth Development Artie Gilkes brings us this quote from Coach Groves:

"The thing that I love about Penn State and what kept me there all those years was something I saw right away in 1968...That is that at Penn state more than anywhere else, even in spite of some people hijacking it, the good always overcomes the bad...It may not be right away but it does and Penn State will heal."

Artie will be spearheading some new initiatives at the behest of Founder Clark Haley and Keeper of the Cup Harry Smith for the coming Reunion in May 2012.  You won't want to miss it.

Crazy Like a Fox

A year ago at an indoor meet I had a conversation with 2 1980 Olympians about several topics, including the future of college track and field.  When I stated that we must do all we can ourselves to fortify ourselves against the discontinuation of major programs across the country, one of the Olympians said I was "crazy" and that "it would never happen".  Luckily, one of the Olympians was Greg Fredericks, and he can verify the substance of the talk.  Two of the programs I highlighted were Villanova and Maryland.  After dismissing me as a credible source of knowledge, the Olympian moved on to other topics. And, oh yeah, I really made him mad when I told him that in our only race together, I beat him.  New contest:  who was he and which race was it?

Well, I was right (and here!), although I won't deny that I am crazy for other reasons.   And I am sorry that I made him mad by telling him about the race. I really am.

We must do all we can to avoid the same things happening.

Double the Mirth and More Streaking!

I'm getting back on track after a rough week. (and I mean mine not PSU's)!  With my commitment to the future of Penn State Track questioned, criticized and impugned by some I know and anonymous miscreants besides, I had a lot of time to think.  I had no computer at home and at work due to the "storm of the century" at Halloween.  I may never recover some of my stuff, but what the heck, starting over has its benefits.  (That's a reference to my situation and PSU's for those not keeping up!)  Now that I have digital access again, I have decided to double my efforts, as I know they are meaningful and more important than ever.  Those who have left the fold over issues none of us had anything to do with are welcome back at any time.  Now is the time to start contributing to our mission, with words or funds or any way you can.

My streak continues, against many odds.  This weekend I felt like the lonely deer in Valley Forge  Park.  Last year I had 1,500 friends and now only 150 to 250.  But I still managed to shuffle a 3 1/2 mile loop under 11:00 minutes/mile past the deerless monuments, asbestos dump and future casino.  I'm debating whether to turn in my streak to the American Running Streak Association or not.  Vote in the poll to help me make my decision.  It would make me a novice, and no where near the accomplishment of this guy!

Limited Posting

Work has me attending boring lectures and such, and I have no computer (here or at home) right now.  My options are limited on things people submitted and comments about PSU's travails.  I will get back to them when I can.

Good luck to both XC squads at the Regionals at Maryland's Eastern Shore.  Luckily, they get to escapr the maelstrom that is State College, at least for a short while.

The Lightest of Touches

My editorial powers at the blog are with the lightest of touches.  Comments, of course, are always encouraged, but the past has demonstrated that a modicum of restraint is sometimes needed.

First off, advertising and spam are not permitted.  Those who have never done this would be amazed how much spam from nefarious places floods into even a humble blog like this.  I wish I had saved some of it to demonstrate.  Needless to say, I have apparently 178 Ethiopian relatives who wish to give me money, and I have won lotteries in 34 different nations.

Second, offensive material and links to offensive material (as deemed by your benevolent dictator) are not permitted.  This also apparently disqualifies 1/3 of the internet, but so be it.

And last, profanity is not permitted.  I have included many comments in the past excluding the profanity with the author's (if known) permission.

The light touch I use has been noted by some I trust, to be a confirmation of my spirit of freedom of speech.  This means I have included many off-topic comments and plenty of gibberish also.  Either way, I'm proud of what we have accomplished with our blog. Comment away!

PSU is 800U: The Comeback*

*  I changed the title.  I don't want to offend anyone, and this gets the point across better anyway.  Thanks for the feedback, whoever you are...

When I assumed the role of Herder of Cats for our 11-man Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golfers group in 2008, I had no idea what I was in for.  More than 800 posts later, I'm still surprised at what our little band of brothers have achieved with our experiment in motivation .  Nothing pleases me more than bringing a Lion back into the fold.

It was a delight to see Penn Relays Watch Winner and former Pennsylvania State High School Mile Champion Mike Cook at last year's reunion.  It was his first visit to State College since graduation! He's planning on coming again this year, and will even hack and thrash at the greenery on one of Happy Valley's glorious golf courses with us this year! (I don't think we have decided which one yet.)
 
But when Mike told me that he even recently ran a 10K, I had to refresh my computer monitor (the one at work, since I still don't have a replacement for the exploded one at home) and check again.  I don't think Mike ever ran a 10K when we were really running 10Ks back in the day.  He had decided after high school that the mile was a bit too far and switched to the 800M instead.  But now, with a slight nudge from our humble little cadre of has-beens and never-was's, Mike is truly a distance runner!

A Somewhat Inept Attempt at Cheering Everyone Up

Scandal and unease has taken over State College and will only be getting worse.  Such is the way things work in a world where information can be disseminated instantaneously to everyone who wants it, and even to those who don't.  My heart goes out to everyone involved, especially families of the victims.

But, I take heart knowing what I would have done in such a situation.  Doing the right thing in this case would have meant extreme personal sacrifice, but I would have done it anyway.  Loss of job, friends, and more would have certainly followed, but I would have done what was right.

I know this primarily because of what my parents taught me, but also partly due to what I was taught by Coach Groves while at PSU.  I have witnessed what Coach Sullivan is teaching athletes at PSU today, and it gives me much encouragement that all is well with PSU Track and Field (and Cross Country!)  Honor, integrity and "doing what's right" doesn't guarantee success as an athlete, but it is one heck of a good accompaniment!  We can all hold our heads up high as Penn State Track and Field Alumni (Golfers, remember, the golf is optional, but highly recommended!)  I know I'm not the only one who learned quite a bit about how to deal with people and situations from Coach Groves. The athletes today have the same from the current Coaching Staff.  So let's all redouble our efforts to support the Program and each other as we suffer the slings and arrows from afar. Keep fighting the good fight and we'll become stronger than ever.

PSU Track Alumni at PIAA Championships

Several PSU Track Alumni Golfers were in the crowd in Hershey at the Pennsylvania Cross Country Championships. It was a nice day after last week's fiasco of a weekend and times were fast.

• My daughter's team, York Suburban, placed 16th in the AA Girl's Competition.  My neighbor, Sami Gehly was the team's second finisher.

• Larry Mangan's son Michael helped his Lower Moreland squad to a 10th place finish in the Boy's AA meet.  His daughter's former team, St. Basil Academy, powered to the win in the AA Girl's division.

• Also in the AA Girl's group was John Zeigler's daughter Heather, who was second for her Meadville squad.  Meadville is near the home of Harmonsburg's very own Rob Whiteside and also close to the cheerleading home of Hollywood's Sharon Stone.  I'm not sure which High Schools John, Rob and Sharon attended, but it sure must have been a hotbed of some sort back in the 70's!

• Rebecca Donaghue coached her Little Lady Lions from State College to a 9th place finish in the Girl's AAA race.

Anyone aware of any others, I missed?  I'm sure there are plenty.

Addendum from a little birdy:  Also in attendance were perennial spectators and Harrisburg area residents Mark Haywood and Jeff Sanden (who is still waiting for the Golden Putter!)  Coach John Gondak was also there scouting for more talent (PSU is 800U!).  Even our very own Founder Clark Haley may have been spotted!

20 Things I Learned in More Than 50 Years (Yea, I'm Slow!)

1. In my opinion, morning runs are the most important element in a good runner's training regimen.  They are unfortunately the least fun also.  I maintain that any modicum of success I achieved in the sport is directly tied to the decision to start two-a-days in high school.  My favorite morning runs in college were the ones where I ran by Rec Hall and tapped on Coach Groves' window to be exempt from his Fitness and Games Gym Class, Twice!
2. Women will invariably answer "It depends." to the question "What is your shoe size?"  Men will answer quite specifically "9 1/2 C" or something similar.
3. Post-operative swelling always lasts much longer than the patient wants (which is measured in hours!).
4. Dogs can eat the same thing every day and remain much happier than most people.  And yet my obsession with Kung Pao Chicken once weekly is viewed as "insane" by some.
5. Women will take at least 3 bags to work; a purse, a bag of a prepared lunch and another bag for anything else, which usually includes a change of shoes.  Men will often forget to take even their wallet and will have no bags unless it contains work tools. 
6. Both men and women under 40 will always have their cell phone in their hand.  Those over 60 have one at home but won't know how to use it.
7. People who give waitresses and waiters a hard time should be avoided at all cost.  Anyone who ever tips less than 10% at a meal should be sent to San Quentin.
8. Most people don't know that 400 meters is shorter than 440 yards.
9. Fleas are much more aggressive and proliferate when camped on a cat.
10. The size of the TV is proportional to how quickly it fails after the warranty expires.
11. Computers were put on this earth by God to test human endurance.  At least Microsoft PCs anyway.  Maybe Apples are different. I had an Apple II many years ago but I don't think that counts. And Steve Jobs never consulted God anyway.
12. The Steeplechase is another of God's tests.  I'm not sure I passed that one.  I look forward to St. Peter's review of my record on that one.
13. Hammer throwers are a fun group to hang out with. Without their hammers, that is.
14. Fast Food will be the death of all of us, but it sure is tasty sometimes.
15. Physics is incomprehensible.  If it isn't, you just haven't studied it enough.
16. In only two months time, Cross Country goes from being too hot to do to being too cold to continue.
17. I can vacation anywhere and a perfect vacation for me would be a Cruise where the ship never is untied from the dock.
18. The Chinese have 5 times as much Capitalism than do the Americans.
19. Hill repeats are another test God gave coaches to torment and test athletes. I'm hoping it's not uphill to Heaven.
20. Practically no one reads my blog, but many people tell me they do.

Billy Mills, Billy Mills, BILLY MILLS

Billy Mills gave a talk yesterday prior to the Marine Corps Marathon that was really inspiring.  When America wants to promote its heroes for the rest of the world to see, Billy would be a great choice.  Check out the story in the Washington Post for a little pick-me-up in the Motivation Department.  (And he golfs too!)

The last person Billy passed at the 1964 Olympic 10,000 M Final was Mohammed Gammoudi.  I've had the pleasure of hearing from both men via Facebook after they were featured on our humble little blog.  I'll send this post along to them also.  Both are cordially invited to golf with us anytime!  Our very own Olympic Order Historian, Coach John Lucas called this race the best Olympic moment he witnessed in his over 50 year Olympic obsession.  That's some powerful stuff.  As is Mr. Mills.  (Mohammed got his Olympic Gold 4 years later!)

Gone To Texas

The renamed novel on which the movie screenplay for The Outlaw Josey Wales was based was called Gone to Texas.  Originally, the novel was called The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales.  Either way, can you imagine anyone else playing the part other than Clint Eastwood?

Group friend and future Track Alumni Golfer (we will entice you to come, I guarantee!) Howard Triebold sends us another great Wrist Band Photo from the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.  Thanks for thinking of us, and get those sticks out for some practice!

And here's a little bit of Josey to keep your day lively.  When I was Student Council President in High School (yea, my one and only foray into politics, trust me!) I got to introduce the guy that did all of the close up gun play in his movies at an assembly.  He's also in a lot of Clint's movies, often killed by the same guns he is shown using. I'll try to look up his name when I get the chance.

"Oh, the Humanity", Blog Central Goes Down

Electricity is back!  Unfortunately, the photo represents how my computer took the whole ordeal.*  I have (hopefully) only temporarily lost a lot of material, including submissions from my vast tens of readers for new blog content.  Unlike the Hindenburg disaster, the catastrophe at my desk only took the lives of two African Dwarf Frogs, Manny and Moe.  Jack survives in his own cubicle upstairs, which must have maintained a slightly higher temperature during the 60 hour power outage. Manny and Moe survived to the ripe old age of nearly 5, which isn't too bad for a animal the size of a penny, give or take a gangly leg or two.  RIP boys**, you will be missed.

* Blog post courtesy of a balky work computer, also staggered by the "storm of the century".

** Determining the actual sex of African Dwarf Frogs is extremely difficult.