A Tradition Unlike Any Other

The time has come.

The green jackets are dusted off.

The Masters starts this week.



As most of you know, I'm pretty obsessed with this golf tournament. I'm pretty sure I've devoted a blog post to it, or maybe a couple, to it every year. This is the tournament you skip class for. Instead of practice you watch the Masters. Augusta's lush fairways, super slick greens, and beautiful azaleas, have me hypnotized for a week every April.

My prediction this year hasn't been totally solidified, but my tentative pick is Tiger. After breaking his 7 tournament winning streak last week, he's probably ed (you could have thought that after his threats to the camera man, for footage go to youtube). Tiger is always hungry and Augusta is his Thanksgiving Day feast. Not to mention, most of the world is scared less of the man on those greens. Ha.

I think the Masters is the best remedy after the heartbreaking loss last night in the National Championship. Sad day in Memphis for sure...

The Curse Is Broken

After losing the past two years in the Elite 8, we finally made it.

The Final Four.

I have high hopes for this team. After watching the game against Michigan State, jumping at the tv reenacting Derek Rose and Joey Dorsey slam-down-your-throat dunks, I stand firm in my belief that we have the best team in the nation this year.

Next opponent: UCLA Bruins.

Just a reminder: Tigers are at the top of the food chain.

YouTube Find

Check that tackle.
T. Woods that was solid.

I'm Back.....From Hawaii

It's funny, I feel the sudden urge to blog when I am at 30,000 feet. After a solid 10 hours in the air coming back from Hawaii, I am exhausted. I have been up since 4:45am yesterday, played a round of golf in 40mph gusts, and about ready to really loose it. The computer screen is blurry, at times I am seeing double. My stomach is in knots and my feet hurt. But missing a week of school for the paradise known as Hawaii was well worth it. The ocean never ceases to amaze the crap out of me. That part of the world is incredibly beautiful.

I leave you with a shot from Paradise Cove, in Ko Olina.

1 vs. 2

Memphis vs. Tennessee



Tomorrow the state's elite basketball teams face off in Tiger country. The city is like, totally, so excited. I have never seen so much hype for a regular season game. There are a lot of UT fans that live in Memphis and I'll see an occasional vomit orange flag flapping in the wind, but today the flags were out in force. Random banks are hanging up signs saying, "Go Tigers!" or "Go Vols!" The energy is raw, it's exciting, it's got everyone talking. Tickets are going for thousands on ebay. The UofM team is just calling it another game, and that...is...exactly...what...it...is. People say UT is our rival, but we play them once a year.

Tomorrow's 8pm tip-off will be exciting for the state of Tennessee. I am excited to watch it. I wish I was going, the atmosphere would be amazing. We are flying to Raleigh, North Carolina for our first tournament of the season. As always, I am pumped up and ready to rock it.

I'm hoping for two University of Memphis wins this week.

Go Tigers.

Numba 1 in da Nation

Buh Bye

OUT


I'M


BACK TO


See you there?

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

The Playlist

Apoligize Remix- OneRepublic feat. Timbaland
Fidelity- Regina Spektor
Faded from the Winter- Iron and Wine
Here at the Right Time- Josh Ritter
Bubbly- Colbie Caillat
World Away- Emery
Searchlights- Falling Up from Exit>Lights album
Luven Me- Nelly
I'm For You- Toby Mac
Doe Boy Fresh- 36 Mofia
A Little More- Skillet
Soul Meets Body- Death Cab
More Than A Feelin'- Boston
Take Me Away- Lifehouse
California Dreamin'- The Mamas & the Papas
Tusk- Fleetwood Mac

Ba Ba Back It Up

Here's some sweet old school Anberlin. This music video is just down right funny. Nate, the drummer, is about 15 here. Yikes. Enjoy.

Please welcome to the #1 tee.....

Tomorrow is begins.

A 5am wake up call. Put on our uniform. Breakfast soon to follow. Eggs, toast, yogurt, tea. Grab my clubs, cart bag and iPod and get in the van to head to the golf course. Organization. Depart for the range. Hit 10 balls with every other club starting at pitching wedge ending with sand wedge. Anberlin blasting into my head and me thinking of amazing shots I have hit in the past. I gather confidence as I warm up to get ready for a nice, long day of 36 holes. After the range, head over to the chipping green. 3 balls. Scatter, and hit a variety of shots. They're close. I'm pumped. I catch a teammate, and head up to putt. 2 balls. Putter. 3 footers around the hole, make them all. After a full rotation, move to the 6 feet. Go around twice. Move to 8 feet. Once. 10 feet. Once. Lag some putts from around 30 feet. Time to get it goin'. Head to the tee and let the magic happen.


This is a typical day going to the course. Tomorrow is when our season starts. We are in Louisville, KY. I have never been here and its beautiful. Rolling hills of lush, green grass and full oak trees. Crisp mornings and blazing afternoons. Golf season is starting. Yes.

Anticipation

I am stoked. Emery's third cd comes out on October 2. I've heard all the hype so I hope it lives up to its reputation. I have been in a musical rut lately so something new is going to be great. Don't worry, I pre-ordered a copy. Yess....



Hilarious.

Love It

This picture was taken on my bike ride to school. This is one of the main streets around the University, Central Ave.

My Favorite Spanish Song

A Little Reminder

Life can seem ungrateful and not always kind...
Life can pull at your heartstrings and play with your mind...
Life can be blissful and happy and free...
Life can put beauty in the things that you see...
Life can place challenges right at your feet...
Life can make good of the hardships we meet...
Life can overwhelm you and make your head spin...
Life can reward those determined to win...
Life can be hurtful and not always fair...
Life can surround you with people who care...
Life clearly does offer it's up and it's downs...
Life's days can bring you both smiles and frowns...
Life teaches us to take the good with the bad...
Life is a mixture of happy and sad..

Take the Life that you have and give it your best...Think positive, be happy, let God do the rest...Take the challenges that life has laid at your feet...Take pride and be thankful for each one you meet...To yourself give forgiveness if you stumble and fall...Take each day that is dealt you and give it your all...Take the love that you're given and return it with care...Have faith that when needed it will always be there...Take time to find the beauty in the things that you see...Take life's simple pleasures let them set your heart free...The idea here is simply to even the score as you are met and faced with Life's Tug of War. (Author Unknown)

What A Dope

Well, it happened. The Tour's critics are satisfied with another positive test for synthetic testosterone. As of late, the tour has not consisted of the test of the human body and what it can endure though France but it has consisted of surfaced doping allegations. Again. T-Mobile team member Patrik Sinkewitz "A" sample tested positive. This is the first sample they take, if it comes back positive, Sinkwitz can request a "B" sample to appeal the results. If the "B" sample is positive Sinkwitz will look at a possible ban from the sport. He could also be fired by his team and have to pay back his annual salary.

The news caused two German television stations to stop covering the race.

As a admirer of this sport, I am left with rolling eyes and head shaking. It is a shame that the integrity of the sport has been challenged so much in result of these drug tests. It is a real shame. Patrice Clerc, the President of Tour Amaury Sports Organization says it perfectly, "Riders are playing Russian roulette, in a way, when they are tempted to cheat."

In Sinkwitz's defense he is about to have surgery as a result and WD from the Tour on Sunday and "knew nothing about [the drug in his system]." This is the case for some of the athletes caught doping. Their trainers or doctors have to be so careful of the drugs or supplements they give the athletes. There is a black list that has so many names on it, it is practically a book. Mistakes can be made. But who are we supposed believe?

*Source: Daily Times Call. 19 July 2007.

Crash and Burn

Keep a lookout on the right side of the Peleton. Ouch.

Appreciate the Art

I have fallen in love with photography. My interest grows the more I use my camera and study photographs in National Geographic. I hope to start publishing some of my pictures. Here's one that struck my fancy on nationalgeographic.com.

Beautiful St. George

Where's Golf?