December 23, 2008

Best 2008 Sports Moments

2008 was a great year for sports, so it is hard for me to list my top sports moments for the year.

The Olympics were nice but I was not mesmerized by the action so while impressed with Michael Phelps, his feats did not overwhelm me. Nor did the Giants in the super bowl. I am bored with Tiger, he is just too good. I don’t care about the NBA anymore so bah hum bug on the Celtics. With the Tar Heels out I couldn’t have cared less about Rock Chalk Jayhawk, and I almost vomit at the sound of Brett Favres name.

But two events of 2008 stand out to me.

Back in early march, my daughter’s Middle School basketball team won their conference tournament and Ryanne was named All Conference and All- Tournament. That was justice for a team that had been pounded soundly the year before. This was only slightly better than their runner-up trophy in the conference volleyball tournament in 2007. I never thought I would get so excited about volleyball that didn’t have two women in bikinis in the bright hot sun!

In late January, my son Brooks made a shot and was fouled in his league game with one second left on the clock. His basket cut the lead to two. He intentionally missed his free throw that bounced back to him and he swished it back in to send the game into overtime. Then with 8 seconds left in the first over time he buried a three that sent the game into a second overtime. The gym was packed and the atmosphere was awesome, so losing the game in over time number 3 wasn’t so hard to swallow. Brooks and I went and bought lottery tickets after the game. His luck must have run out because we didn’t win anything!

I get more anxious over my kids games than I ever did my own. And even if my favorite teams reversed their futility into greatness; that means something other than an awful Notre Dame Football season; or the Tar Heels not losing in the final four; even my pitiful Detroit Lions going from 0-16 to 16-0. None of these would touch the joy of walking to the car with my arm around one of my kids after their game and telling them that I love them. Win or lose I love them.

But our favorite saying in the Corder household is, “Winning is so much better than like…..losing.”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

December 10, 2008

3 Days of Introspection

I have spent the last 3 days at a meeting focused on looking at my leadership abilities. Throughout all of this introspection I realized something. I am not that deep. I am pretty normal (Some may say boring) I wish there was more depth and breadth or something that would be remotely interesting. Nope nothing is there!

But I did reflect about being on Facebook and Facebook has really allowed me to reflect and take stock of my life; my life in high school, my life in college and my work and my professional life. Reconnecting with people who in hindsight had such profound influences on me has been a tremendous experience. These are wonderful people whose memories are woven together into an awesome mosaic of my life’s fabric. I say mosaic but I guess the reality is maybe its just a nice shade of beige. These are wonderful people whose entrance and exit throughout my life have made me into the man I am today. Some people may not want to lay claim to that but facts are facts.

Our lives have reconnected and stay connected through the technology of the internet and the miracle of Facebook, but in reality the thread that ties us together has remained tethered to the deep regions of our memories. In reality, nothing can break the connection of our time together.

The Way It Is
There’s a thread you follow. It goes among things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing. You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see. While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding. You don’t ever let go of the thread.
- William Stafford