SeizingMyDay

Weekend Warrior Bug Hits Me Again!

Well it took 36 years to get a pair of surgery marks! That's right. On Sunday night, this aging weekend warrior took off for a game of volleyball with the Westlake Lutheran Volleyball Team. Lorie questioned my decision--"Are you sure you want to go? You may get hurt." Off course I disregarded her warning, grabbed my old volleyball knee pads and headed for the gym. With six other aging warriors, we took the court for a game with some young players who actually practiced spiking the ball. We were concerned if we could even touch the top of the net. Ah, but we were ready for action.

I was pleased with my early play, but after ten minutes, both sides of the net heard a clearly audible POP as I lunged toward a ball. As my Achilles tendon gave way, I fell to the floor. I didn't have to guess. Thirty-six years ago, I had done the same thing to my left Achilles tendon driving for a basket in a pickup game against some hotshot high school players. I think my play was to win the game. Instead of scoring, I heard the pop and my left leg gave way before I could complete the lay up. In both cases, surgery was required to repair the damage.

In December of 1971, I was in graduate school at Fuller Seminary. It was my left leg, so that even with surgery, I was able to drive. I remember the surgery because of the unique nature of the timing. I was admitted to St. John's Hospital for surgery. Just down the hall was football great Joe Namath waiting for knee surgery. He was the buzz of the floor. Rumor was that he had a woman in his room long after visiting hours were ended. There were guesses as to what the then playboy was up to behind closed doors. We were scheduled for surgery at the same time in different operating rooms.

Dr. Phillip Hay did a great job on the surgery, but what I remember was waking up in recovery coming out of a hazy fog to see a number of nurses around my body. One said, "Is this Joe Namath?" For a moment, I was questioning whether that was possible. Then Joe Namath was wheeled into the room, and another nurse said, "No! That's him!" I've never felt so alone. I'm lucky I had no complications, or they might nit have caught it. The nurses were busy looking at the playboy! It makes for a great story. 

Now, on Friday, July 13th, I get to replicate that surgery. There should be no Joe Namath, just this aging weekend warrior. Here's hoping that thirty-six years has improved the surgery methods ,and I will back from recovery quicker. At 61, I got things to do and fewer years to do it.

Some would be disputatious of operating on Friday the 13th, but I figure more people will not want to risk it, and God will have fewer to watch. All I can say is that maybe I ought to let my volleyball career end--ten minutes of joy...and a little bit of pain. Over the years, I can enhance the story. After all, since Lorie was right, the chances of me getting out of the house again are minimal.

But I am blessed even in the midst of these challenges. God has been so good to me that when you are dealt cards like this...you just play the hand and keep going!

A UCLA Miracle to Brighten My Holiday Season

How else can you describe it other than as a miracle? A 6-5 UCLA Bruin team given no chance by the football pundits or odds makers in Vegas takes it to the mighty 10-1 USC Trojans in a game that kicked USC out of the BCS Champion match up with Ohio State. When the final gun went off, the score was 13 to 9. Seven years of frustrating losses to their crosstown rivals showed in the faces and actions of the UCLA coaches, players and fans alike. It was a football game for the ages! It will be remembered as one of the great games in a series with a history of great games.

UCLA had to play a perfect game, and their defense all but did just that. They put in on the line every play. They gave but they did not break. USC failed to score in the second half. Their once powerful running game was limited to a minus seven yards in that final half. With the loss, USC is left facing Michigan in Rose Bowl. UCLA had already settled for an appearance in the Emerald Bowl on December 27th in San Francisco. But now they will take that trip with an earned swagger. Instead of being 6-6; they are 7-5. UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell and Defensive Coordinator DeWayne Walker solidified their positions for next year; the players ended the season on three-game winning streak and a bowl game. This victory means more quality recruits at UCLA.

As an alumnus of UCLA, being at the game was an early Christmas Gift. Sitting with my USC friend Bob Davis made it very satisfying. He expected to win; I hoped for a good game. I got a great game and a victory; Bob could do nothing but say, "UCLA earned it!"

Let me end this entry with the moment that will stay with me the most. No, it is not the running of quarterback Patrick Cowan, the play of the defense or the game-changing interception by senior Eric McNeal. It was the energy and impact of a once-in-a-lifetime confrontation of energy, emotion and drive that was exhibited by both teams with but 5:52 left on the clock.

The Bruins were ahead 13 to 9. They had just punted to the USC Trojans and were ready to dig in for the final and most important defensive stand of the game. They knew what it was like to lose with 27 seconds left on the clock; they had done that at Notre Dame. Now, they faced the potent offense of the second-rated team in the country. You could see the Trojans rally themselves. The players were jumping up and down, trying to rally their own motivation to win.

On the other side of the field, you could see the Bruins doing the same thing. Players were coming together with an energy and a fervor I had not seen in this team. It was like they were convincing each other that THIS time, in THEIR house, THE TROJANS weren't going to prevail!

During the television timeout, the crescendo grew as more players joined each team. The mass of players from both sidelines started to move toward each other as if drawn by the opposite charge of energy. There was barking, chest beating, and exhortations from their coaches. Even Karl Dorrell looked emotional for the first time in the season! Each team was firing themselves up for the mano et mano war that was about to begin. They were almost reaching each other at the center of the field when the referees threw flags on both teams. The players scurried to their sidelines...and then the gladiators came on to the play the final six minutes.

Not a fan could sit! The volume of the crowd made it hard for either team to hear each other. USC advanced down the field and was in a position to score when Eric McNeil blocked and then intercepted John David Booty's pass. The game was all but over, but it was played out. Only then did the UCLA players, coaches and fans believed. Yes, the miracle had occurred. UCLA beat USC. The streak was broken! Dignity was restored, and the victory bell was returned to Westwood for at least one year.

I had a great trip home relishing the victory and the memories it created. My USC car mates, Laura and Bob Davis, did not enjoy the ride as much. I eventually turned off the post-game comments and played Christmas carols to soothe their hearts and minds. After all, in the department store of life, sports is the toy department. But what a toy I got this time!

A UCLA Loss Makes for a Great But Disappointing Birthday

What a context for turning 61 years old! I'm on a plane headed back to LA from Chicago. Yesterday, as a self-generated but Lorie-supported gift to myself, I gave myself the opportunity to go back to South Bend, Indiana for the UCLA vs. Notre Dame football game. What a classic it was--59 minutes of unexpected joy for the loyal bruin fans who had made the trip and thirty seconds of stunned disappointment. We lost the game we should have won thanks to a scrambling play by the Notre Dame quarterback, a couple of broken tackles, and a very frustrating "prevent defense" that prevented nothing but victory!

Thanks to friend an SR colleague, Tony Alessandra, I was given a free ticket high in the stadium on the 30 year line. A group of UCLA water polo players and I held up the bruin
rooting section in our area. We had much to cheer for. The defense was stellar for all but 27 seconds. Our second string quarterback, Patrick Cowan, outplayed his Heisman candidate opponent. They were young, focused and poised for victory, but they went home with a hard-to-take loss. It was still worth the journey. The Notre Dame campus is exceptional and the fans gracious. Many fans even expressed guilt for the lucky victory; I figure Touchdown Jesus struck again! Some of their fans were willing to trade him for our cheerleaders. At any rate, this loss goes down with UCLA's football loss to USC which saw O.J. Simpson score a touchdown to take the victory away from Gary Beban's gutsy bruins way back in the 60's. I was depressed then and disappointed now...due no doubt to a few years of added maturity!

UCLA played a good game, they lost, but, as a young team, they are on the right path to future great years. All teams have their share of both games they should have won and games they should have lost. Last year we won many that way; this year we are losing them. Some days you're the bug; some days the windshield.

In fact, as one sports commentator used to say, "In the department store of life, sports is the toy department." Well, on this day, my birthday toy broke. But it is only a toy!

Dad is still in the hospital and improving. Lorie has been with him. Today, Patty takes a turn. We will pick up the slack on Tuesday and weather the week until Doug and Judy return. After the years of chaining my diapers, they deserve a little care in return.

This afternoon, I get to speak to the Ventura County Republican Party--a chance to rally the faithful before the big game November 7th. This is an election we have to turn out the faithful. It's a tough time for Republicans, but the stakes could not be greater--the war on terrorism, lower taxes, judicial appointments, less spending and a commitment to show that negative campaigning does not work.

I end the evening with our Alpha Evangelism program. That is the most significant game of all--the only one that counts in the end--the true touchdown Jesus! I'd say that for this 61 year old birthday boy, I couldn't ask for a better. or busier, weekend!

The Agony of Defeat and the Joy of Victory Go Together

After watching The Florida Gators devour my UCLA Bruins in the March Madness final last night, I am struck with a few observations about motivation. First, Florida earned that victory from start to finish. They were focused and played as good of basketball as I've seen at the college level in many moons. As a Florida native, I can claim some joy...second hand!

As for UCLA, they are learning an important lesson about motivation. Just because you're motivated does not mean that you will prevail. Failure is a very real part of every life. The agony of defeat is the price your get to pay in order to experience the joy of victory! But that costs just deepens the joy when victory comes. As for me as a fan, the pain of watching them fail was well worth the opportunity to watch these fine young men dream and work so hard to deliver on that dream. They will be back next year, and they will be stronger for the experience they have had.

The Bruin victory over LSU was as striking as Florida's victory over UCLA. I think it has something to do with focus and on whether you expect to win. UCLA played with focus against LSU; no one thought they would win. Against Florida, far more pundits were saying that UCLA's full game defensive pressure would win the day. The players talked like that whenever they were interviewed by the media running up to the big game. I don't think those comments or the media interviews helped their motivation.

I remember something from John Wooden's Golden Days at UCLA when we never seemed to lose. Wooden learned to not allow his players to talk to the media before any game. He said that they were not mature enough to handle all the attention and keep their focus. In the LSU game, it was Big Baby who was doing all the talking. For the finals it was UCLA and Florida was fairly quiet. Intensity and focus are hard to sustain when you are distracted looking in the mirror about how great you are.

The players were articulate in their interviews, but they were not as focused in their play. I already look forward to next year, but I hope they learn from this loss. You can't talk your way onto the victory stand; you have to earn it in the game of life one moment at a time.

A UCLA Bruin Is Forever Proud!

March Madness is coming to an exciting close and UCLA is back where it belongs--in the Final Four! Win or lose in this year's tournament, I could not be prouder of the young men on the team and of Ben Howland the coach who has brought excellence back to the UCLA Basketball Program.

The team plays hard every moment with a strong focus on defense. In the last eleven games of the season, only one team barely scored over 60 points on the Bruins! They put their heart on defense, and it is showing in victories.

This year brings back memories of the golden years of UCLA basketball under the Wizard of Westwood, John Wooden. John Wooden created team play focused on sustaining a dynasty. By doing so, he built one. John continues to be a man of integrity and faith. He made great athletes play team ball, and they thrived. They are once again playing team ball at UCLA. The young team shows the potential of going far, not only this year but for years to come.

Ben Howland knows how discipline, focus and support his players. He embraces the legacy of John Wooden while having the confidence to believe his teams can live and play at the same level. He's not threatened by the past; he's used the past to inspire the future. What a great approach.

I'm a father, son, husband, Christian, psychologist, author, columnist, conservative Republican, Swedish-American, and, certainly not least, a proud UCLA Bruin! In the department store of life, sports is the toy department, but it sure is fun to spend time there! Some people never care about sports; I fear they are missing a potential great joy! OK, and a source of some disappointment, but that goes with making the highs so wonderful!

Go Bruins! Win or lose, you are first in my book!

A Day of Skiing in a Winter Wonderland

It's another beautiful day in paradise. We woke up to a classic view of Lake Tahoe off our balcony. The white snow from the last two days and the clear blues sky made the scene glisten. I now know why we love it here so.

After two days of snow and shoveling the driveway, I know why I don't live here. Then again, who needs a gym when you have to shovel snow daily? Give me the sun of Southern California and let me visit Tahoe! Now, that makes sense!

But today, the break in the storms with new snow approaching on Thursday gives us a golden opportunity. It is time to ski! We haven't been since 2001. We used to ski often and make sure we were up the slopes early getting every run we could get. It is a wonder we didn't kill ourselves. Now, in our later years, we settle for half-day tickets and enjoying the views and very immediate level runs. There are no moguls or black diamonds on this boy's dance card!

How can we have a blog called SeizingMyDay and not seize the day for this wonderful packed-powder skiing opportunity? I guess, at 60, I've still got that desire to live the day that God's given you! I hope you do the same.