We’ve started to Wii

I hooked up the kids’ Wii today. It ended up being "self-contained and fairly explanatory"*, but as I get older, I get increasingly intimidated when faced with a thick operator’s manual. Every techno gadget has so many features these days that you deserve three college credit-hours if you can figure it all out. Anyway, they were up and singing High School Musical songs in short order. Tomorrow, we plunge into the deep with Endless Ocean.

VEEP Thoughts

What do I think of McCain’s VP pick? Well, I’ll tell you.

It was a shrewd move in that she’s untouchable. Obama’s already on thin ice with many women voters who think that he undeservingly vanquished Hillary. Any arrows slung at Ms. Palin will be interpreted as slights against women and the PUMAs will be more inclined to sit out the election, or worse, throw their weight to the right.

Of course, by picking Palin, McCain forfeits an arrow from his own quiver. He can no longer say that Obama is too young and inexperienced to inherit the throne when his own first-in-line is even younger.

I think Palin will help McCain more than Biden will help Obama, but in the end, it may not matter.

Unspeakably Sad

I don’t like to get too heavy here at BFS, but I feel compelled to tell you this. There may be no more devastating sight in all of humanity than a tiny casket. I saw one this weekend; I hope to never see one again.

I still like music

Song of the week honors go to … it’s a tie! The Weight of Lies by the Avett Brothers and Mission Control by the Whigs. I’m up for hearing something new if anyone cares to recommend their favorite new musical find.

Bocce Balls!

The Springfield Parks Foundation Bocce Ball Tournament kicks off on September 11. The $35 entry fee is a little steep, but I imagine that it is waived for standing champions. In fact, I could probably command a fairly hefty appearance fee should I decide to enter. I’m a bit of a legend in bocce circles.

*Lunch for two at the Sportsmen’s Lounge to the first person who can identify what movie this line is from.

Lithuania, our homeland,
Land of heroes!
Let your sons draw their strength
From our past experience

Let your children always follow
Only roads of virtue,
May your own, mankind’s well-being
Be the goals they work for

May the sun above our land
Banish darkening clouds around
Light and truth all along
Guide our steps forever

May the love of Lithuania
Brightly burn in our hearts.
For the sake this land
Let unity blossom

Once again, in the mother tongue:

Lietuva, Tėvyne mūsų,
Tu didvyrių žeme,
Iš praeities Tavo sūnūs
Te stiprybę semia.

Tegul Tavo vaikai eina
Vien takais dorybės,
Tegul dirba Tavo naudai
Ir žmonių gėrybei.

Tegul saulė Lietuvoj
Tamsumas prašalina,
Ir šviesa, ir tiesa
Mūs žingsnius telydi.

Tegul meilė Lietuvos
Dega mūsų širdyse,
Vardan tos Lietuvos
Vienybė težydi!

I read an article a month or so ago about a novel attempt to improve the quality of play on England’s national volleyball team and rowing crew. Rather than limit competitors to people who already participate in these sports, an open call was made to athletic types who were over a certain height. The purpose of the tryout was initially kept a secret.

The reasoning of the sporting commission was that there were probably a lot of people with a natural ability to excel at these sports who, for various reasons, have never competed at them. They figured that it would be easier to find superior athletes and teach them the sports, than to take current volleyballers and rowers and try to get them to be more athletic. The article indicated that the plan was successful.

This got me to thinking about the U.S.’s failure to climb to the top of world soccer competition. The reason for this, I’m convinced, is that while most countries’ best athletes make their way to the soccer pitch, in America, our best athletes play football, basketball and baseball.

Among all of the incredibly gifted football, basketball and baseball players in this country who nevertheless fail to make it to their preferred sports’ professional ranks, there has to be some world-class soccer talent.

Here’s my proposal, slightly stolen, for improving the fortunes of our national soccer team.

Establish soccer academies/charter schools in the inner cities of our major metropolises. Starting at fifth grade, students tryout for a spot in the academy. The youngsters are graded on athleticism and discipline, with a nod given to previous academic achievement.

Those accepted receive a free, high-quality education through high school. During that time, they also train and compete on the soccer field. After they complete their years at the academy, those that no longer wish to pursue soccer, either in college or in the professional ranks, receive a scholarship to a four-year college or technical school.

By tapping into this new demographic for talent, the level of play of our national team will rise considerably as these new soccer-bred players make their way up.

You know, I believe that will all have undeveloped talents and unrecognized gifts. Who knows, if your parents didn’t push you into figure skating, maybe you could have been a highly-decorated archer. And you over there, you might have excelled at the pole vault, if you didn’t spend all of that on the Nintendo.

The reason I mention this topic right now is because this weekend I discovered a hidden talent of my own.

I was at a cookout Saturday evening to celebrate the birth of our nation. There were many activities to accompany the food and drink: swimming, karaoke, basketball and the tossing of the pigskin. A few of the guests even broke out into a game of bocce ball, and eventually asked me to join.

I didn’t enter the game until a few rounds in, after the other players had a chance to rack up points. No matter; I quickly established myself as a master, and, after a tight match, came out victorious. My superior play was as much a surprise to me as it was to the more experienced also-rans.

Two things to note here:

First, this was my first attempt at bocce ball. The primitive Roman game was never a part of our Lithuanian holiday rituals.

Second, one of my fallen competitors was of Italian descent, and therefore, a ringer by nature. As I understand it, in his old country a bocce ball player who loses to a non-native player is exiled from their village and forced to live out their days transiently in shame. I’m sure this fellow won’t be damned to a similar fate, but he is probably sufficiently chagrined after being shown up on his own turf.

Anyway, I enjoyed bocce ball and look forward to playing again. It’s probably too late to make a career of it, but I can continue to dominate the cookout circuit.

So my advice to you is to step outside of your current comforts and interests and try something new. Who knows, maybe you’ll be able to humiliate one of your friends as well. It’s a wonderful feeling.