So it’s been two years since I’ve been ice skating and really it’s turned out to be more exciting than I had expected. I go to a lesson every week and he’s taught me all sorts of useful things that you could never learn on your own. After averaging two to three hours a week for the past year, I’ve reduced my time around the rink, and have learned forward and backgward crossovers, and some turns and spins. There is some progress, so I continue to push myself to get better.

As I’ve been learning to skate, many people on the ice will periodically offer helpful advice. Even young children try to do their best to teach you.  One thing I’ve noticed however, is that not only is their advice helpful, but it’s also downright hilarious.   Today is one example.

It’s always a little slow when you first start a session because you’re also afraid of falling.  Usually you get accustomed to it after a few minutes and this time was no different.  Anyway, as soon as I got on the ice, a little girl says to me,

“Is this your first time skating?”.

I didn’t tell her that I’ve been skating 11 months.  That was a real confidence booster.  I then responded with

“It’s the skates I’m getting used to the skates”.

That was true because this particular rink has really bad rental skates.  But my spirits were lifted a few minutes later when a little boy (who was looking at my Evgeni Malkin jersey) says to me,

“Do you play hockey here?”

I responded,

“Not now, but hopefully someday”.

Also my confidence was again lifted when an hour later the same girl came by and said,

“You’re doing better”.

Thanks boys and girls, you’re very helpful and downright funny.

10. You can’t use your hands
9. A 1 goal lead is an insurmountable lead.
8. If you try to talk soccer with a non-American, they call you names behind your back.
7. The fake falls to get penalties called.
6. The fake falls to kill time in the closing minutes.
5. The MLS will never be able to compete with the rest of the world.
4. The players not on the field have to wear special shirts over their uniforms.
3. Overtime is not sudden death, despite the incredibly low scores.
2. Penalty shots are at the referee’s discretion and very often result in the final outcome of the game.
1. The final tiebreaker is penalty kicks.

I’ve now been ice skating three times and it’s hard to quit now after getting over the worst part of it. I find it quite different than what I was expecting. My first thought was that ice is slippery and I would fall immediately. So I grasped the wall with all of my strength as a self defense tactic to stop me from falling. I almost gave up completely. I had been on the ice 15 minutes and my left arm was dead tired from supporting all of my weight. My foot ached because I roll it to the side when I walk and I could not sustain pressure evenly distributed across the soul of the shoe. I thought I was done. The instructor told me to try hockey skates next time. And sure enough that worked.

The second time was different. I was able to keep my skates straight. Still I supported too much of my weight as I continued to do what the instructor told me to do: Take small steps. I went in 20 feet intervals taking baby steps and it was quite exhausting. I hadn’t exercised in weeks not to mention skating uses muscles you never have used before. I continued with the baby steps to the third session, staying near the wall and circling the rink 5 times in the hour I was there. Towards the end I was able to maintain my balance and take the baby steps without holding the wall, which was a moral victory for me.

I have yet to fall on the ice. I think that overcoming the fear of falling is important in learning to skate. But that’s a story for a different day.

As much as I dislike the re-structuring of the NFL schedule to move the Pro Bowl from two weeks after the Super Bowl to the week before, I am still pleased with the continued domination of the AFC over NFC. I remember those years when the NFC had won something like 15 straight Super Bowls and it was frustrating and a little bit embarrassing for a Steelers fan. Finally though the tables have turned and once again the AFC has bragging rights.

I think there should be some incentive to the Pro Bowl though. Like major league baseball for example, the winner boasts home field for the World Series. What could the pro bowl do? Perhaps eliminate the coin toss for opening kickoff and replace it with the choice given to the Pro Bowl winner’s conference.

Also, I don’t think you can have an “all-star” game and still call it an all-star game without playing the leagues very best players. The current structure sidelines the Super Bowl teams players, so what does that leave? The best of the rest. Are we as die hard football fans deserving of “the best of the rest”? I don’t think so. I would love to hear the rationale of the NFL for structuring it this way, but for once I do not agree with the NFL agenda. I like the playoff system, I like the divisional structure as well. The only other thing I don’t agree with is playing highly important playoff games in 20 degree whether or in snow. These guys are professionals and are extremely talented. Do they really deserve to play through in the freezing cold? Why not play all the playoffs in neutral fields in favorable climates, or even indoors? I know the NFL fans are tough and crazy, but in negative windchills is ridiculous. Commissioner Goodell, fix the Pro Bowl, make it worth something. Still though I can’t complain too much with today’s result of yet another AFC win.

Hockey is a difficult sport to understand, but once you follow it it can be one of the most exciting sports to watch. Granted, regular season games can be hard to pay attention to, but when the chips are down in the playoffs there is nothing better. One can really feel the pressure to score or defend in these situations. It is definitely violent at times but you have to take it with a grain of salt because they all shake hands at the end of the game. My experience with hockey goes back to when I was a young kid where I played gym hockey. I think that this sport deserves more attention across our country if, for nothing else, because of its popularity in Canada. Our acceptance of this sport will improve our relations with not only our northern neighbors but also several European countries. Hockey is here to stay.

Ever since moving to Houston I’ve had a dilemma about which pro basketball team to root for. Coming from Pittsburgh, which does not have a professional basketball team, I was pretty much free to choose whatever team I wanted to. The only tension there is that sometimes it is frowned upon for merely rooting for ANY pro hoops team as opposed to college teams (i.e. the University of Pittsburgh).

In any case I am an avid player of EA Sports’ NBA Live series and have chosen my favorite teams on the game to become my favorite teams in real life. Sometimes I would get so interested in the team that I would buy a their respective tshirt, but this could be somewhat dangerous in an NBA town such as Houston.

My favorite teams from the game are the San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Celtics. What I’ve found is that it is the players on the team are what peaks my interest. For instance, my opinion is that Yao is nothing but a body in the lane and has minimal basketball skill. For that reason I don’t think it’s accurate to say that he is the second best center in the NBA. Also, ever since the “beer throwing” incident of Ron Artest, I’m not particularly fond of him. On the other hand, I think Manu Ginobli, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen are exceptional players, thus my inclination towards their team.

Neverless, I am living in Houston and I should pull for Houston no matter what. Whatever happened to “root, root, root for the home team.”? So Yao, Tracy, and Ron I’m sorry to critique you and go win that NBA championship.

I went to see the Strake Jesuit basketball team play for the second time in the playoffs last night. They are the #1 team in Texas and the #14 team nationally. I can’t figure out the interest in high school basketball. Whether it was last night or 20 years ago when we used to create and play an imaginary league of the country’s best basketball teams, the excitement is always there. I guess once you play high school basketball you dream of being as good as some of these players, so you identify yourself through them.