I survived the Christmas marathon (and I didn't even get a lousy T-shirt)

Emily and I, like all married couples, had a negotiation before the wedding day. No, we don't have a pre-nuptial agreement, but there had to be a holiday treaty. Whose family would we spend holidays with, what years, would there be alternating years? Lots of questions had to be answered before anybody said "I do."

We decided Christmas would be with her family. There were a lot of traditions they obeserve every year and I respect that.

Presents are opened on Christmas morning, followed by a trip over to her father's parents with her aunt. This is Christmas brunch, followed by more presents. Don't forget to rush back to the house, where preparation for Christmas dinner begins immediately. Everyone in the family, both sets of grandparents along with her aunt attend dinner. That starts at four and is still going as I write this. Don't forget more presents. The last few years have seen the addition of Christmas Eve dinner at her uncle's house, with more presents along with other her aunt's parents.

Yes, I'm tired and overwhelmed. No, I wouldn't rather be home. No, I'm not the Grinch. Merry Christmas to all.

A few other little items: Yes, Will does understand Santa. He woke me up this morning at 4:30, 5:30 and 7 with the same question--"Is Santa here yet?" Yes, Will made out like a bandit at Christmas. Yes, Will has already broken three presents, one of them mine. Yes, I'm annoyed that I'm going to lose in the FFL playoffs. Yes, I'm going to take it out on anyone who makes any snide comments.

Categories: Personal, Will

That link is no longer a joke

Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

This particular right, given to American citizens by our founding fathers, has been under attack for a few years. The march of technology has given government agencies greater ability to keep watch on people. A recent ruling by the US Supreme Court had curbed some of the more sophisticated searches by police agencies. However, the government of the US has consistently attempted greater and greater intrusion into the personal communication of its citizens.

The pattern of any organization is to use any new capability. Rowing teams will use a new technology once it becomes available, looking for an edge. The military puts into use anything that will give an advantage on the battlefield for good reason; the purpose of the military is to be as lethal as possible. The government is in a different position: the law enforcement agencies of the government must show a judge probable cause before a search warrant can be issued.

The reason for the 4th amendment was to limit the government's ability to invade the privacy of the citizen. Government would not get the power to search any citizen without cause, "fishing" for evidence of any wrongdoing. As the founders knew, anything a person (or government) goes looking for will usually be found. Constant monitoring of the citizen, as foreseen in Orwell's 1984, has become nearly possible. The computing power available to the National Security Agency has reached a point where all email on the internet can be monitored and catalogued.

Why is this a bad thing? The argument has always been "I'm not doing anything wrong, so I don't have anything to worry about." What happens when you decide the government is doing something you don't like? Would you like to know that your anti-war emails are being intercepted, databased and filed for future use? Finally, what is to stop the government (or those who control it) from deciding it doesn't like something about you, then using the capabilities of modern technology to examine your life, for no cause other than your beliefs?

The simple fact here is that I shouldn't feel the need to research and justify a part of the Bill of Rights. That's what I would call basic American law.

So how can it be in any way acceptable for a sitting American president to order and proudly defend breaking the 4th amendment? Even during the Cold War or World War II, times our country stood under the greatest threat, the Constitution was not abrogated in such a fashion. The law was crafted to allow wiretaps before getting a warrant from a judge, as long as the judge was consulted within 72 hours. Any argument that somehow justifies this behavior merely attempts to cloud what seems a fact: the Chief Executive of the United States broke existing law as well as the 4th Admendment of the Constitution. That same President has stated in the public record that he will continue this behavior. How do we as citizens bring this Executive to heel within the law?

Bill Clinton was impeached for lying about oral sex in a civil lawsuit. If knowingly breaking the Constitution and continuing that behavior doesn't rise to the same level of William Clinton, then our political system is in deep, deep trouble. Those who agreed with Clinton's impeachment but justify Bush's actions are worse than lying hypocrites. They are traitors, actively working to undermine the basic governing law of the United States of America.

Categories: Politics

Risk Management

The ladies in our audience can stop reading now. Most of you. Some may need to continue, but you know who you are.

Guys, we as men somehow pride ourselves for being good behind the wheel. While we may not dress well, smell the best or have a photographic memory for conversations, all of us are confident behind the wheel. Perhaps a few of us are too confident. The real truth is that none of us drive as well as the young lady pictured below.



Now that I have your attention, I need to make a point before Emily decides to have a little chat with me.

Driving, lads, is about risk management. In the car, you are responsible for not striking anything enroute to your destination. Therefore, you make several decisions per minute in reference to managing that task. Things that can go wrong during driving (risks) must be managed so as not to accidently re-design your parents' automobile.

An item that we deal with here in Pittsburgh is snow. Snow is slippery. For those that don't recall, my previous employment was in automobile dealerships. Our bodyshop guys called snow "white gold." Anyone care to ask why?

Coaches cringe when we think of our athletes in cars. Athletes at this age are always a little keyed up, either about the other athletes in the car, the music playing or the great workout they just had. Even when they aren't driving to or from practice, we know these people. We know how they're wired. We know they might not be coxswains for a reason. We also know how bad our coxswains are at steering, and that makes me all the more nervous.

Please, please be a little more careful. Two accidents in one week, no matter how far out of control the situation was for the drivers, is two too many. Think about where you are driving on what kind of surface. Think about your poor parents, worried about your inability to return the car in the same condition. Think about your poor coach, worried about the effect on the carpool after you total said car.

Finally, just forget about all the stories you've heard about coaches driving boat trailers. Never happened. You didn't see the trailer go that fast.

Categories: Safety, FC

Pitt practice

Five-thirty is a little too early--
I'm asleep, my hair is still curly.
It's exam week I know,
but that goes to show
this team is a little bit squirrly.

It's a long drive down from my house.
No one stirs, "not even a mouse."
But if nobody shows up,
I'm s**t out of luck,
perhaps I'll just sleep on the couch.

Categories: Pitt, Training, Rowing

Suck week, or an opportunity to do something special

Some weeks are harder than others. I remember dragging into practices in February still sore from the workout the previous day. Classes and social life would collude to bring my mental focus to a nadir. Then I would realize that day's row was 5x1500m, my least favorite workout by a long margin.

But no matter how miserable I would feel on those days, nothing compared to the hopeless, never ending feel of the last week before a vacation, either Thanksgiving, winter or spring break. The workouts before a break are always just a little harder, as the coaching staff stuffs in as much work as possible. Monday's workout drags on and on, Tuesday brings a new definition of pain and Wednesday is unspeakable horror. Fridays would be marked by a 6k. Always.

Both of my crews face that "slog" week now, and I hope the workout schedule doesn't seem as bleak as I describe here, or this picture of the Antarctic wastes.


Like any coach, I see opportunity in such a challenge. Just getting through a week like this, surviving the workouts and defying the coach to do worse is a great exercise in mental toughness and discipline. I know that athletes at this age, college or high school, don't like the idea of more discipline, but the mental strength needed to push through this week's work is something to celebrate. Athletes who are still working, giving good efforts at the tasks put in front of them are the real foundations of any team. People working out hard this week, just before the break, can be counted on when races are on the line.

Rowing has a huge mental aspect, and like any other muscle group or skill, mental toughness must be trained as well. Just getting down to the gym on cold, snowy days like this is part of the workout. Keep it up, kids, your break will be here soon. And no, I don't plan on an erg test on Friday.

Categories: Training, Rowing, Memories, Coaching

The root of all evil?

Is the erg the root of all evil? I'm sure I believed that in the past, and I'm sure that the athletes I'm coaching loathe the machine at the right.

The real reason I never liked the rotten thing was how unlike rowing it really is. The sport is the ultimate team expression, moving a boat over water in groups. (I ignore single scullers here because, well, they are just strange.) Ergs simply don't reflect that team concept. The ultimate individual testing machine, the erg rewards garbage technique and gives no "boat feel" feedback. Then there is the screen.

There are only two types of feedback the machine gives an athlete. Either "you suck" if you're not pulling your target split or "you rock" if you're going faster than your pace. One or the other, that's all the feedback the machine gives. Then there is a lunatic coach who puts far too much importance on those numbers after he's been locked off the water for two months.

There really isn't an alternative to training over the winter other than moving to southern California. With snow in the forecast tonight, that's sounding rather reasonable right now.

Chin up, all athletes. Keep an even strain on the mental "rope" as we enter the depths of winter and fight these machines on a daily basis. I'm planning on getting out the sliders so some people can remember what we're doing all this madness for. If results really start taking off, I'll even..........maybe.......perhaps......give a ..........

day off?
.
.
.
nnaaaaaaa.........

Categories: Ergometers, Rowing, Teamwork, Training

Coaching Education

I know, I know, it sounds like an oxymoron. Sort of like military intelligence, honest politician and nice pit bull. Just doesn't sound right. After all, any moron can coach, right? The sport can't be that complicated, right?

Anyway, there were decent little points in our Level III course, and plenty of snooze time. Rather than boring the audience with a snore-by-snore account, I'll add in the stuff that nobody really thinks about when attending these sort of "professional development seminars."

The chairs sucked. They looked great, green, plush padding, matched the carpet, usual hotel stuff. The problem was they were perfectly flat on the seat. Think about whatever chair you are sitting on right now. Even portable steel folding chairs have some sort of curve for the sitters behind. These had none. My can was flat after the second section, and there was still six hours to go.

The food, when there was any, was terrible. Breakfast, usually sponsored by NK or CII, consisted of coffee with some stale pastries that any local gas station would reject. Even worse, the coffee would run out. Please, we're coaches here. We have needs. Lunch, served on Friday, was a large stack of box lunches consisting of a turkey club wrap, a cookie and some chips. I stole a second box when the minders weren't looking, because the wrap wasn't that bad, but we were allowed less than 20 minutes for lunch.

Some speakers were interesting and engaging. By that, I mean funny. After all, we're all stuck in the same blasted windowless room for an hour and a half each section. If you're going to drone on, even about rowing, please keep my attention with a decent anecdote or two. The athletic director brought in to discuss risk management (i.e. safety and cover-your-ass releases and waivers) was really amusing. Listening to him tell it, rowing is the most dangerous sport his college sponsors, and they field a rugby team!

Networking with other coaches is a good reason to attend the convention, and I did make some contacts.

I suppose the disturbing experience of the entire trip was observing how USRowing makes decisions. That is, indecisions. That also might be, decisions never announced to the membership, made outside the usual process of their own rules. I believe the lunacy surrounding the adjourned annual meeting serves to illustrate there are too many lawyers involved in rowing.

Overall, despite the complaining I've spewed out here, the convention was worthwhile. I learned a few things and picked up some ideas to talk to everyone about. The question, as always, will anyone listen as I blather on.....

Categories: Coaching, Rowing

It's not just the training

Three hours per day, six days a week. It's a grind. Of those three hours, perhaps 80 minutes average are devoted to working out. The rest is sucked up in travel, locker room stuff and a coaching staff that doesn't know when to shut up.

It's a very seducing formula: training for X amount of time at Y intensity will yield Z results. Wouldn't everything be great if training was so simple? Too bad it isn't. That's where everyone is getting tripped up. What is done in the erg room is an important part of training, but not the ONLY part of training.

Exercise breaks down the human body on a daily basis. After the workout ends, recovery begins. The system recovers to a higher level of fitness than before the work began, and that (put very simply) is how exercise increases fitness and capacity. The variable in this setup is the rate of recovery and how much "higher" the systems recover to. Does that make any sense? No? Example:

Two athletes, pulling identical 6k erg times, begin winter training in November. Both attend all their practices and complete the same training. At the beginning of March, a 6k is administered again. Athlete A beats athlete B by a huge margin. They have both greatly improved, but why the margin between them?

Yes, there could be genetic reasons involved. Possibly, genetics have a ton to do with all this. However.....

What if athlete B was getting three hours less sleep per night than athlete A? Add in athlete B's well-known weakness for the Original Hot Dog Shop, procrastinate-cram study schedule and the fact (s)he knows the bartenders at every club on the south side. Do the results make a little more sense now?

When athletes' nutrition is unbalanced, their lives are over-complicated or they aren't getting proper rest, the rate of recovery from exercise is slower. The body systems don't increase as much after every workout. The athlete has hamstrung her(him)self.

The lesson of all this, not so subtly, is that athletes don't train in a vacuum. The erg room doesn't equalize anyone; you bring all your stressors, nutritional fouls and sleepless nights in with you. How you live your life the other 21 hours of the day directly affects your body's recovery after exercise and thus the effectiveness of that exercise. No workout program ever invented can make anybody faster than somebody who's getting 8 hours per night when you are getting 5.

Now, I'm not saying that an Olympic-potential heavyweight will be beaten by a 45-year old lightweight if that club rower is getting more sleep. What I want to emphasize is that athletes have control over the other 21 hours of the day, and coaches do not. If my readers are as serious as they all claim to be about this sport, about going fast and winning races, they need to examine their lives outside of the erg room. Now, I'm not commanding everyone to suddenly become saints.

However, aren't we all just chasing that little extra 1% to put us over the top, to get that medal and win that race? Are you truly doing everything you can to pick up that 1%?

Categories: Motivational, Training, Fitness, Rowing

COMMITMENT

Commitment- a) A pledge to do,

b) Something pledged, especially an engagement by contract

c) The state of being bound emotionally or intellectually to a course of

action or to another person or persons

Sixteen people have been absent the past two days. That’s one third of the team missing practice. I know peoples lives are crazy, I graduated from high school not too long ago, and with every thing that has been going on the past two weeks my life has been nuts as well. Some commitments your bound to, but after having a week plus off every one should have been able to get all those doctors appointments out of the way, gotten all the school projects done, and finished any college essays that you still have left to do. The sport of rowing is based upon trust. When you’re out on the water you have to trust every one in the boat. Trust is built over the winter. You all know what the boats are and who is fighting to get in them. I don’t know about you but if I didn’t see one of the guys from my boat wasn’t there I would like to know where he was. That’s where the responsibility falls on the guys that have been coming. It's your job get them there. I know Jay and I feel the same way, we like all of you but if you don’t want to do this then we will survive. Don’t try to save our feeling just because you don’t want to do this any more. I would rather have eight guys who live and die by the sport but have no talent then eight guys who have all the talent but don’t put the time in to harness it. As the definition says “engagement by contract” I haven’t talked to Jay about this yet but I decided that with the novices I am drafting a contract. That states

A) You will commit to row, and only row this spring. I understand people want to do other sports, that’s fine but I am not willing to train you all winter then have you decide this is not for you. Pick a sport you love and stick to it. This is not only limited to sports it includes, clubs, band, and musicals.

B) You will miss no more than four practices for the remainder of the season. Medical reasons being the only acceptable excuse. A missed practice is attending less than five practice sessions a week; six will be offered allowing a rower to choose the five they wish to attend.

C) Any changes, additions, or clarification will be brought forward to me at practice then voted on by the novice team with a majority vote being required to make alterations.

All novice rowers will be required to sign the contract in order to participate in practice. If the contract is violated then it will result in a one week suspension from practice and team activities. A second violation will require a vote from the peers in order to remain a member of the team with a two thirds vote being required to remain.

If this is what it takes to have the guys commit then so be it. I didn’t want to have to worry about this but I can see that it has become a problem. I love all of the guys on the team so much but to get to where we want to be its going to take a COMMITMENT by every one.

Categories: Training, Teamwork, Rowing

It's About Time for a Hair cut

Well I just got back from an appointment with my Doctor, and it looks that its about time to get out the clippers. The meeting went well and the doctor said he is confident that the chemotherapy will eradicate the cancer. I begin chemotherapy next Wednesday, December 6^th, and will have to undergo treatment for approx. three months. The way the chemotherapy works is that it is a combination of three drugs that will be taken through an I.V. There will be four cycles. A cycle goes like this.

Week One, Wednesday drug A, Thursday drug B, Friday drug C

Week Two, Wednesday drug A, Tuesday drug B

Week Three Wednesday drug A

Almost all of the of the sessions will take approximately three to four hours, so it looks like I will be taking a little time off from school, since the therapy takes up a large time chunk a few days a week. So some one bring the clippers I will give you all the pleasure of bring out the inner skin head. Who knows I may even support the hawk for a few weeks.

Categories: Personal

The Waiting Game

Well I figured since its been a few days I should post something official. After spending ten houers in the hospital for a 45min procedure I am back on my feet and feeling pretty good. I am a little sore when I get up or move around a whole lot, but I have basically been bumming it around the house since I got back, so can complain too much. The incision they made is about 4in down from my belly button and 2in right, so they had to go through my abdominal muscles, you never realize how much you abs do until they have been severed. Coughing, sneezing, and laughing are basically out of the picture for a little while. But I would have to say that the best part of this whole experience was my opportunity to try Morphine for the first time. If you have never had the chance, it truly is life changing> I never realized that a half a syringe of liquid could make you feel so good. As soon as I get better I plan on investigation how to become fully addicted. But on a more serious note, THANK YOU so much to every one who has been keeping me in their thoughts and prayers, and ask that I stay there as I begin the next part of this journey. Just a reminder to all the boys, I will see you all a practice on Tuesday, so don’t forget to spin the machines.

WAVER: I apologize if the above is incoherent in any way, the pain meds I am still taking make me kind of loopy.

Categories: Personal

1st Henley

The favorite time of the year: winter training! I can hear the groans from all assembled already. However, the best part of winter training is always story time.

These are pictures of my senior year in high school, leaving for our trip to England. Can anyone guess who in that picture is the coxswain? For some lunatic reason, the cheapest way to get all these kids to England was through St. Louis, on TWA (total waste of airfare). That made for a LONG flight over, with me stuck in a middle seat. I believe it says a lot that TWA is no longer in existance.







Here's Todd Jesdale, our coach, trying to figure out where the airline has put our airplane. They don't seem to have an answer, and when the glasses come off, there will be trouble.




Our oars, packed for shipping. We brought our own over, because there was never any guarantee that we could rent a set. Renting a boat wasn't too much trouble. Notice that the oars were not painted. Todd never did paint the blades until it became a requirement at some regattas the following years. We loved it, making comments about "stealth oars" and other such nonsense.





Ah, the REAL reason of this post. My dear sister's romance with the stroke seat of the boat, Andrea. He was an exchange student that year from Italy, joining us in the fall. His exchange family had a daughter on the team, and he joined up with great enthusiasm. Andrea was a lightweight, but rather tall and VERY strong. He and I had some great erg competitions over the winter. I usually won, but the margins were very close and didn't make up for my extra 30lbs over him. We never seat raced, and I think that might have been a good thing.

Anyway, Andrea and my sister became an Item about a month before we left for Henley. Contrary to everyone's thinking, I was in favor of the match. Andrea is a great guy and my sister can take care of herself. Besides, if Andrea had ever screwed her over, I could have been a little slow on the catch, letting him impale his kidney on my oar......

It was really funny when Andrea asked my permission to date my sister. Really, that's what friends should do. You don't start dating a friend's sister or ex without bringing up the subject first. After all, is a good friendship worth endangering over a relationship?

But Andrea really took it kind of far. The tone of that discussion resembled the conversation I had with Emily's father before I asked her to marry me. I think that he expected me to deck him or something. Great times.

Categories: Memories, Rowing, Photo

Iraq again (and again and again and again...)

Alright, I'm sure that everyone is tired of this topic and nobody wants to see it's ugly mug again. That's nice, but it's my blog.

The political events surrounding Iraq this past week really got my steam up again. I simply cannot believe that the administration thinks the current "plan" is working. How many "historic votes" will Iraq have? Which one will be the great vote that will render the insurgancy politically hopeless and bring peace? How long will American troops be required to cling Iraq together?

The President says that we'll stay until "victory." What is victory in this situation anyway? Cheney says to "stay the course." What course? What progress is being made? There's no Jeffersonian democracy just around the corner in Iraq. The violence will not cease before we leave, or after. Some nations weren't really nations at all; some nations were artificially created decades ago and immediatly fly apart when the strongmen holding them together at the point of a gun are removed. That is Iraq right now--a failed state, where the common citizens just don't care about their supposed country.

It's time to get out. Perhaps stay in the north, to make sure the Kurds, who like us, don't get mauled in the upcoming civil Iraq war. It will be a religious war, with Sunnis on one side and Shia on the other. Anyone in the middle will just collect IEDs and fill body bags. Funny, that seems to be us now.

The people who believe we should stay the course should consider the following hypothetical: how long do you hold a stock you've bought that continues to fall in price? Two years? Three? Even when prospects don't envision getting back to where you bought? If your portfolio manager "stays the course" for that period of time, you would fire the guy. Why should the fact we're paying with blood, not money, make this situation any different?

When a House member who barely won election calls another member who collected two serious wounds in Vietnam with a Bronze star a coward, it's time to finish this. It's tearing this country apart and I don't see a good end. This can only lead to the kind of scism seen in the late 60s, and I don' t believe anyone wants that.

Categories: Politics

Band of Brothers doesn't just happen on the water or in the training room

Alright, it's late. I'm not exactly bringing my A game here, but I need to put my thoughts down. This may not make the most sense, but bear with me.

Jesse's situation reminds me of the aftermath of September 11th, 2001. Because Emily's birthday is the 17th and Oktoberfest is usually that weekend, we sometimes go to Cincinnati. It's a nice opportunity to get a lot of "fair" food, drink some beer and have a great time. The aftermath of the attacks around the country cancelled Oktoberfest that year, but we went to Cincinnati anyway. Just an opportunity to see my family and visit.

Once we got there, my mother told me about Rick Booms' sister. She had been on the second flight to hit the towers. The moment of her death, that second airplane, had been on TV for the last week. The family was having her funeral that weekend.

Rick had joined CJRC that winter of my senior year. He is two years younger than me, but was already 6'3" and a capable, experienced oarsman. He rowed six, right behind me. After I went to Yale, Rick anchored the Cincinnati juniors until he graduated and went to Brown. We met up at Sprints whenever we could, but I never had to race him. He was an old teammate; we had shared an incredible journey together that season of 1995, but had gone our separate ways since.

When I heard about his sister, I immediately felt a "pull," something deeper than regular sympathy. A feeling that somebody important to me was hurting and I needed to do something. We went to the funeral, and I talked to Rick briefly. I felt no need to interject myself any more than that; we had never talked outside of crew events in the six years since 1995. But somewhere in my soul I felt a connection that demanded to be addressed. A teammate was hurting and I needed to be there.

What we as a team feel about Jesse reflects such a connection. Somebody everyone on the FC squad shared a special season with is hurting, and we all feel a connection. As his coach that year, Jesse fills a special role with me: he was the first captain of the first crew I ever coached. In that fashion, I identify a parental relationship with him. The years since have seen a friendship develop that reflects more than a "mentor-apprentice" coach-assistant relationship. All the guys on the team feel something as well, something deeper than mere friendship. These guys have "gone to war" with Jesse, either in a boat with him or on a team that he captained. The novice guys experience him as a "big brother" coach showing them the ropes for the first time.

Bonds like these aren't forged in the course of a regular friendship. Like the trust combat veterans have for their buddies, sports relationships always forge deeper than expected because of the shared experiences between everyone on that team. Sports do teach valuable "life lessons" that are touted as justification for increasing budgets. However, such lessons are secondary to the bonds young athletes forge between each other. Crew, like many other sports, requires a level of trust that we have trouble developing in this modern world. Once you trust somebody like that, the bond between two, five, nine or however many will become adamantine. You will always jump to the aid of that person, because of your shared experiences and all those times that person had your back. Such relationships may seem to fade, but the slightest hint of a life-changing moment for that person will bring a visceral reaction from everyone on that team. That season may have been decades ago, but if somebody on that squad is hurting or celebrating, you'll drop everything to be with them, to cover their back this time around.

Another rambling post in the dead of night, with a morning practice five hours away. I guess I'm trying to say, get well soon Jesse, the guys and I have your back and stand ready for any need you might have. Not just as friends, but as a brotherhood.

Categories: Teamwork, Motivational, Memories, Personal, Rowing

Update

Just to keep everyone informed. CT scan results came back; the cancer has spread to one of my lymph nodes. This means that post op I will need to continue with radiation, chemo, or another surgery. But doctor says to still stay positive. Thank you to every one who has expressed their sympathies, it’s comforting to know so many people care.

Categories: Personal

Winter

A1 and six by fives have just been added to the menu
Rull Tide the theme song of four months of madness
Goals will be set and records will be lowered
Tests taken after school require a different kind of study
Pr is as good as Au
Subs will be eaten after weights have been lifted
Spandex will go unwashed
Showers will be taken, a whole lot of showers
Boys will go in
And Men will come out
Desperation will set in
But determination will win
The band will grow as brothers unite

Categories: Training, Motivational, Rowing

Lessons of Friday

I suppose enough time has passed that I can write about what happened on Friday morning at the three way "race" between FC, Pitt and Central. I didn't want to put my thoughts down too soon, because I wasn't really pleased by the results overall.

Before I get into a rant, I want to heap some praise onto two boats I coach. The Pitt lightweights really blasted everyone. By time, they were the fastest boat on the water that morning, rowed aggressively and won their race easily. All the time I've let them row together has obviously paid handsome dividends and I'm really getting excited about the lightweight events this spring. We're losing the stroke seat (he's returning to Tulane crew) but we're getting back another experienced oarsman for that side of the Pitt crew. I haven't told Dan yet, but I would love to put a light 8 together for long portions of the spring. I'll explain my reasoning in another post.

Secondly, I was really happy with the effort put forth by the FC second boat. Because of injuries and sickness, I took apart the lightweight 8, put the stern pair into the heavy 8 and called the results "A" and "B". The new "B" boat got one practice together before racing, yet put up a gallant battle with Central's "B" crew and finally beat them. For guys to suddenly be told they're not "A" boat material and treated like they were, that performance showed courage, fortitude and professionalism that I've been trying to teach since I took over FC. I am proud of that result and of those guys.

Unfortunately, I wasn't following the race with the Pitt lights or the FC "B" crew. I was following the "main event," with Central's, FC's and Pitt's "A" crews. Looking back, the boat I put in as Pitt "A" wasn't the fastest boat the club had. The lights were still faster, and would have handled the high schoolers easily. I was operating under a few false assumptions that I hadn't had time to test out. Lesson to me: don't assume anything until you can see if it's going to work in practice.

Central jumped out to an early lead, rowing 34-35 strokes per minute at the start of a 3.5 mile race. I knew they would want the early lead. However, I wasn't ready for how they would maintain 33 or so once they got 3 lengths ahead. I then knew my other mistake; I hadn't talked to any of my coxswains about match racing, which this was. Tactics become much more important in a two or three boat situation, and I hadn't even given a race plan a first thought.

What really burned me up was that neither of my boats responded well to such a "jump." One mile into the race, Central was ripe to challenge. A lot of energy had been expended and they were rushing the slide to maintain their cadence. A determined, hard long push to get back into Central by either boat would have broken them. Neither boat did so, waiting for Central to break on their own.

When you're in a crew that has built that kind of lead, it's really easy to maintain that lead if you're not challenged hard. You can see the other boats and respond instantly to any movement they put on. Great strategy, unless the other crews push back harder and make you pay the price for rowing so high.

By the time either Pitt or FC realized Central wasn't going to break on their own, it was too late. The final mile, the top of the island, was when both boats put on a push, but they were tired by that point and Central's crew knew they were close. Too little, too late. Central won, with Pitt a length and a half behind and FC trailing badly. Lesson learned: Central is still fast.

I'm not happy with a few things. FC was too busy convincing themselves they could take down a college crew again that they didn't think about Central, despite my voiced concerns. And AGAIN, FC lost to Central in a match race in a demoralizing way. I know those boys are faster than that, but they never seem to come to race when Central is involved. I feel like Tony Dungy, preparing the Indy Colts for another go at the Patriots.

The Pitt guys are a little more of a concern. Pitt didn't row that well and didn't take the challenge from the high schoolers that seriously. I don't believe a college crew should lose to a high school crew EVER. That's just not acceptable. There isn't really any excuse for such an outcome. A thrown-together college 8 should always take out some snot-nosed high schoolers. Lesson to Pitt: get ready for HELL this winter.

Finally. I have a few items to bring up all winter. Pitt losing to high school brats. That little Central pipsqueak bowman standing up in the boat with his arms over his head after crossing the line. News flash, twerp: You haven't won s**t yet. You aren't at Harvard, you haven't just won Eastern Sprints, Henley or the World Championship. Sit down and show some class; you're not that good. Unfortunately, my crews weren't good enough to beat him. I hope that the spring results will shut him and the rest of Central up.

Categories: FC, Pitt, Regattas, Rowing

If we didn’t have bad luck we wouldn’t have any luck at all

Jay and I can’t seem to catch a break. We have known each other for about two and a half years now and just about from the point we meet our luck has gone directly down the hole. Case and Point

My senior year, first varsity 8+ ever to race at the Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championships, our goal to qualify for the finals we miss it by .84 less than a bow ball <>

Spring 2005-My first stint helping out with the team we go to Midwest with high hopes, first the lights jump a foot stretcher and miss qualifying by less than a second, then the next day the JV come .34 seconds away from catching a very fast St. Mary’s crew at the line (Not to take anything away from an over all great performance)

Summer 2005-Where to begin, first a blond headed rower, who will remain unnamed, decides to test the effect of a log on bow of the Volpe, the results were not good. Latter a coxin finds the cement block on the bottom of the channel with her skeg. Then to top it all off, the campers think it will be “funny” to flip not one but both of their 8+’s

Fall 2005- Everyone remembers the infamous urine incident. We’ll leave it at that! Then our varsity coxswain forgets about the 1000lb steel green boiy that DOESN’T MOVE and try’s to close line it with a rigger. Then my novice 8+ has a wheel explode 1000m into a 5000m race! And last but certainly not least, today’s little incident, to flip a 4+ is not something you see every day. Let me rephrase that, something I though I would never be a part of. I guess I was wrong.

But in all seriousness today was a freak incident. If any one is responsible for what happened it is me as the coach. That being said, every ones response was immaculate. Looking back on the situation nothing could have been changed to make the recovery effort run more smoothly. Every one responded in a very mature manner and stepped up and made the whole thing run more smoothly. I guess our luck has to change eventually……Right?

Categories: Memories, Coaching, Rowing

The short version

All right, all right, all right, shaddup!

Dad Vail is a huge race, where some fast crews can come out from. IRAs usually have a slot open for a few boats from Vails. Steve H said it best from the previous comment section, and I think his words should settle anything. Vails have fast crews. Fast like Harvard or Princeton or Cal? Perhaps not in the 8, but damn fast. Earn a medal at Vails, and you've accomplished something noteworthy. On the order as the world championships, IRAs or Henley? No, but it's still a great accomplishment.

One more time on the club vs school "debate": There is none. Line up their best 8 vs your best 8 and go race. In high school, that's not unfair to anyone, because the kids have been rowing for the same period of time, give or take a year. But lining up Pitt's novices vs the Yale freshman boat and you've got an unfair advantage for the Yale kids; most Yale freesh have been rowing for three years before they came to college, whereas the Pitt freesh are all walk-ons, learning the sport. So, there is a difference at the collegiate level and should be different leagues to reflect that difference, in my opinion.

This Saturday, two boats each club: Central Catholic, Fox Chapel and Pitt Crew. Jay Hammond and I will come up with seedings, but I will be starting the Pitt boats towards the end of the pack. From the top of the island below the dam to the 31st street bridge. No rating caps. Two buoys, under the 62nd street bridge and at the turn above the power lines. Cut a buoy, get DQ'd. With 6 boats, it's going to be head race style, but the idea of starting everyone even is tempting, very tempting.....

This should, I hope, put an end to the smack talking. I'm going to punish Emily for throwing gasoline on the fire and starting all this anyway. The betting line will come out later this week.

Categories: Pitt, FC, Regattas, Rowing, Juniors

The Zen of Swing

Swing is the mythical moment in rowing. When the energy an oarsman puts into the boat seems to perfectly propel the hull forward, when the crew moves in unison and the boat slides over the water, when the output seems to generate more energy and a grueling pace seems infinitely sustainable, a boat and the rowers aboard feel "swing."

This afternoon, I hope the Pitt women's 4 found such a moment. It looked like it from the launch. Technique may not be perfect or the boat may not be absolutely set. But swing is the feeling of a crew coming together and understanding how much potential there might be. Swing is the realization that a team is not simply the sum of the erg scores or heights on paper, but something much more.

Swing is trust. Trust between the individual rowers, and between the crew and coxswain. Trust that everyone is doing their job and you only have to worry about doing your own. Trust that you can do your own and the boat will fly because of everyone.

The moment of swing is the moment seared into the memory; a moment to be relived in recollection. I can remember many such moments throughout my own career: a late-fall row after dark in Connecticut, a Norwich row that developed a rhythm that could be sustained long after the 7 miles were gone, a straight pair row over glass-smooth water, the first time I was in a boat that set perfectly.

As a fat, retired oarsman, I won't feel swing again. But as a coach, one of my callings is to help create as many such moments as I can, because such moments stay with rowers forever.

Categories: Motivational, Rowing, Pitt, Technique, Teamwork, Photo

Why I love doing this

This morning's practice with Pitt was a great outing. Smooth water, two 8s, let's go long. With only two boats, I got a better opportunity to actually coach technique. Usually, with multiple 4 rolling around everywhere, I can't get close enough without waking the hell out of another boat. Then there's the little matter of the lighting. There is none.

Understand, it's dark when we launch. Not "dawn breaking," dead middle of the night dark. The boats are lit with white bow lights and flashing red stern lights. The launch is lit according to Coast Guard rules; red on port bow, green on starboard bow and white all-around light on the stern. In addition, our launches have powerful hand-held spotlights. The only way I can see what's happening is to use the spot on the blades or the oarsmen.

I know that I haven't been saying much to the Pitt kids. It's been a complicated process, getting into the system. I haven't been able to learn names as fast, because I can't see anyone on the water. Bodies are just a shape. I don't see faces until we are landing. Secondly, I don't want to give contrary adjustments. Daniel has done a great job with this team and I don't want to screw up any progress. The kids are a little touchy about any differences in style, so I have to really edit myself. Finally, I'm still learning this style of rowing by watching the kids and talking to Daniel.

Anyway, I saw good improvement during today's practice, not only in the boats but in my own work. Only two boats make it easier to get really close and give more pointers. Also, I've just about got everyone figured out, who rushes, who needs catch work and who opens too early. Plus, I was really excited by the distance they are capable of when going long distance in 8s. Starting just a little before 6am, they powered up to the dam (about 3.2 miles), then turned and rowed to PNC park (about 4.5 miles) then returned to the dock (another 1.5 mile). Good, powerful strokes the whole time, finished at 7:10am.

I know the guys are a little frustrated, because the boats weren't perfect and had some rough moments. What does one expect when two seat can't see what stroke is doing? Sure, there might have been some rough moments, but I took some good positives from this practice and came off the water very encouraged. Any Pitt rowers reading this should be as well.

Categories: Rowing, Coaching, Pitt, Technique

Music in Rowing

Perhaps its because rhythm is so important in the sport. Perhaps because rowers constantly search for a piece of music that inspires them and fits perfectly in time on the catches of an erg piece. Perhaps that internal "mental soundtrack" that many of us have needs something dramatic whenever sport is involved.

I've only heard of one coach that frowned upon music during practice, and I had to row for him. Todd Jesdale refused to let us listen to anything during practice. 6x500m, 20min erg tests or 60min A1 hours, the only thing we had to listen to was the roaring of our model B ergs. (Yes, I am that old.) My only act of defiance was brining in a diskman (yes, those were invented) during my 6am extra work I did the winter of my senior year. That's just too early in the morning not to listen to something, especially when I was working out alone. (One particularly depressing morning found me the only person in the place, as it was in the middle of a 7" snowstorm. School was cancelled, but I got in my two practices. What a freak...)

Anyway, what's my point of this post? I'm not sure, like many before this.

The guys did give me a disk of their favorite erging music today. I have to admit that there's finally some rap music that I like to hear. Perhaps because I associate it with watching the boys slaving away on the machines.

Categories: Rowing, Coaching, Training, Ergometers, Memories

Practice

The Varsity has no practice today 10-7-05 due to SAT's. Novices should come at their normal time. Also there will be a 6k 10-10-05 every one is encouraged to come down and spin the erg at some point to get ready.

Categories: FC, Rowing

Pandemonium Any One????

Four weeks until the next race and two crack headed coaches with a lot of unanswered questions, is a sure recipe for bedlam. Over the next four weeks don’t have any expectations for anything to run as normal. Lineups go down the drain along with convention, but hey sometimes that seems to work best. About the only things that Jay and I can guarantee you to happen before the Jack Speakmon are that there will be a 6k and a whole lot of chaos. But don’t be alarmed, we do have a method to our madness. There will be reasoning (no matter how obscure it may be) behind our insanity. You may not understand it, but that’s the point. We only ask you go out pull on the oar and let things fall into place. Suggestions any one?

Categories: Rowing, Coaching

Head of the Ohio Results

This is my third year coaching teams competing in the Head of the Ohio. In 2003, I was too hyped up, having just started coaching, to really complain about dismal timing mistakes. In addition, I was too cold; the weather was terrible and I hadn't started my current collection of foul weather gear. In 2004, I wasn't the only coach to harangue the management of Three Rivers about the timing. The operations manager had a haggard, gun-shy look about him for weeks afterward.

This year was supposed to be different. The same timing company that works the Head of the Charles was here to set the Ohio straight. Everyone knew that attendance at this race was down, partly because of the timing fiascos. From 900 entries in 2003 to just over 530 this year, Three Rivers really needed this race to run smoothly. The weather even cooperated this year. Then came the results.

I mean no disrespect to the South Niagara rowing club. They are talented, fast and well trained. However: a high school varsity coxed 4 isn't capable of navigating a 2.75 mile racecourse in 14:28. Not when varsity 8s are pulling times in the low 14 minute range. That just isn't possible. If that is true, then those boys need to be signed up, right now, to the Canadian Olympic team, because that's faster than anybody in any 4 anywhere.

While Jesse and I were digesting this little bit of news, we noticed the winner of the women's high school singles. I know Suzanne Maddamma. Her talent was apparent this past summer, when she cleaned up at USRowing Nationals. However, if she went 10:28 down that course, then people on shore would have noticed the rooster tail of water the wake of her boat would have produced. The results were later corrected, but I want to know what (moron) official signed off on that result in the first place. What is even more lunatic is the fact, admitted by Suzanne, that she got passed in her race.

As I write this, a time still has not been posted for the Fox Chapel heavy men, who raced in the open 8 event. Everyone on the course saw them, they had a bownumber and the club has a receipt for the (ridiculous) entry fee. However, no time. I expect they came in 4th, after Cornell 8, based upon their time trials. How do I know what the time was? How could I trust that time if it ever emerges?

The FC lightweights did well, with a 14:23. On par with time trials, a good race. There's still boat speed to be found there, and I'll continue to try some things out.

I'm very pleased with the performance of Pittsburgh's light 4s. Both men and women pulled second place finishes, after multiple races earlier in the day. There is still a lot of work to be addressed whenever the Pitt guys get into an 8. Losing to a high school shouldn't be acceptable to any college oarsmen, anywhere. The open 4 left a little to be desired; I want to never, ever lose to Duquesne or any other Pittsburgh-based crew. Just call me a little competitive.

The pairs. The pairs. The pairs need work.

I'm writing this now, so there will be a record. Any crew I'm associated with should not return to this race next year. The entry fees were un-capped, so many crews paid $1000 for the right to row the course and have the results screwed up for the third year in a row. The regatta ran late, on a beautiful, calm day. I can only imagine the Cornell team getting off the bus in Ithaca sometime this morning. Three Rivers was still scrambling for launch drivers the day before the regatta, while docking a "Stewards Enclosure" at the finish line in an attempt to squeeze more money out of the race. Fellows, news flash: There is only one "Stewards Enclosure" worth the name anywhere in the world, and you have to earn your way into that one.

This may be a "home" race, but it seems more comfortable to travel on this weekend next year.

Categories: Regattas, Rowing, Pitt, FC, Coaching

Nervous?

I have found that there are two kinds of rowers in this sport, those with nerves, and those without. I was always the nervous type. It would begin about a week before the race, that sinking feeling in the bottom of your stomach, the inability to concentrate, loss of appetite and a long restless nights with out sleep. All of these would symptoms would increase exponentially as race day approached. It would get so bad that Kate would be afraid to talk to me for about the last three days before a race. What would make it worse would be seeing some of my team mates sitting back stuffing their face laughing and having a good time. I just couldn’t understand how any one could even think about eating and laughing at a time like this. As I got older and a little wiser I came to realize that it wasn’t that those guys weren’t ready, they just handled race days a lot different. I would try to relax enjoy myself and have a little fun but it would always be to no avail. I don’t know exactly what it was that made me so anxious, I knew I couldn’t win the race on my own, and that the world would not come crashing down if we lost. Yet I still would get about 2 hours sleep the night before race day. After I stopped rowing I figured that race week would be a breeze. I assumed I would have to focus more on keeping my guys loose than getting myself to calm down. I figured wrong. Less than a week to Head of the Ohio and I am more up tight than I ever was as a rower. I guess some things never change. How do you feel?

Categories: Memories, Rowing, Regattas, Coaching

This sport is not safe

People participating in sports that involve water over their heads face a risk of drowning. Swimming matches have medics and lifeguards standing by. Surfing competitions usually have safety officials on jetskis. Even the Great Outdoor Games require safety equipment on the log-running competitions. In rowing, there are safety launches at regattas and usually at practices.

Recreational boaters have little safety equipment and less support in case of mishap on a lake or river. Most lakes don't have a rescue boat standing by in case of collision, fire or drowning. Rivers are better patrolled because most are also commercial waterways, transporting goods throughout the country. Sometimes made up of the local police department or the Coast Guard Reserve, this water patrol conducts safety inspections of power boaters and polices the waterway. They must also stand by for any rescue services that might be needed.

My disrespect for the water patrol was passed to me by my high school coach. After decades spent in small launches following crews, he had little time for Coast Guard washouts hassling him during practices. His launches carried the safety gear needed and he knew what to do if a boat went over. The water patrol should mind the powerboaters who got too close to the team, not the coach.

This has usually been my opinion. I understand the need for such a service, but don't need any hassle from them. I'm polite and don't usually give them any mind or any reason to hassle me. Then came yesterday's incident.

As they passed the water patrol boathouse going downstream on a time trial, the varsity heavyweight boat was swamped by the water patrol. Emerging from the boathouse and flooring the twin 150hp engines on their rescue boat, the water patrol didn't even look to their port quarter. Less than twenty yards away was a small craft with less than 3 inches of freeboard. The wake produced by their deep hulled, 25 foot boat crashed over the gunnels, slowing the shell's momentum and holding the hull in that position, allowing more water in. By this time, I was shouting at the water patrol, who didn't hear me. The varsity stopped and I approached the rescue boat after assuring myself the boys weren't going to sink immediately.

The conversation that followed was notable for the stupidity coming from supposed safety-oriented officers. I was told by the helmsman that they were out on training exercises. I acidly queried that if a shell sank and nine boys went into the water, would that constitute a training accident? Then I was told that we were supposed to come downstream on the left side of the river, counter to prevailing traffic patterns. I asked if he was telling me I was supposed to go head to head with power boats and barges in a commercial waterway. The answer to that was simple bureaucratic butt-covering. "We sent you all a memo!"

A memo, if it ever existed (which it didn't), wouldn't change what these idiots did: endangering the lives of nine kids out for a row. These are the people tasked with ensuring the safe navigation of our rivers in Pittsburgh.

Power boaters in general always give us a wide berth. They can see how small the shells are and know what their wake can do. They have to deal with everyone else's wake on a daily basis. Many boaters are curious enough to follow a practice for awhile to see how fast the shells go. A majority will drop to idle, stopping all wake until we pass. I respect all of these boaters, thank everyone I can, answer any questions and put on a show if they want to pace the shells. Even the cigarette boats give us a wide path.

Not River Rescue. I suppose their training is too important to bother with safe or even courteous boating practices. We row on a crowded waterway and usually don't have many issues. However, everyone must remember that this sport isn't perfectly safe, especially when River Rescue is around.

Categories: Rowing, Safety

Quiznos Night

Most crews have some sort of little get-together that revolves around food. Even lightweights have these little traditions, even if to commiserate over trying to lose weight. (Thankfully, I don't have too many rowers with this problem.) Most teams find someplace that serves a lot of grub and some night of the week becomes food night.

For the FC guys, it's Quiznos on Tuesdays.

I don't pretend to know how much money they spend or even how much they eat. Knowing high school boys, it must be a lot. Given that the manager at Quiznos has changed their hours for the boys and put on another staff person, it must be quite a lot.

I stopped by Quiznos tonight, getting there as the boys were leaving. I have to pick up Will on Tuesdays, so I usually can't go out with the boys. Tonight, Emily had a client, so I got the boy and fought the traffic back to Route 8.

The manager and I had a conversation about the kids. I introduced myself as somebody somewhat responsible for their behavior and asked her if there had ever been any problems with them. She responded with enthusiasm, noting that the boys made her bottom line look good on Tuesdays, were always polite, didn't overstay their welcome and even cleaned up after themselves. (Any parents reading must be gnashing their teeth, knowing how impossible it is to get teenage boys to clean anything up.)

The manager also mentioned that the guys now call ahead so she knows to hold one extra staff person later and heat up some meat beforehand. It makes her life easier, and the boys like having the food come a little quicker. Her only request was the guys call every week one way or another so she knows to keep that extra staff on or not.

Funny, isn't it? A squad that has a "bad-boy" reputation giving such courtesy to a fast-food manager. People in these positions are usually disrespected by everyone in our society, down to the guys that pick up the garbage out back every night.

I thanked her for showing welcome to a bunch of teenagers (not always the most welcome customers anywhere) and gave her my number, in case there ever were any issues. I suppose that I'll start getting calls on the water on Tuesdays from Quiznos: "What's their order?"

Categories: FC, Teamwork, Rowing

You’ve Done Well

To be quite honest I couldn’t be much happier right now, today was the first day for the second group of novices. There had been rumors flying around all week about possibly getting 14 more guys, I was some what skeptical. Though we didn’t quite have 14, we got 6 bring our total number to 19. I am extremely pleased. Last year Jay and I made it very clear that we wanted at least 12 new rowers preferably 16. Everyone came through to the utmost extent. This is all on you, we asked you to deliver and you did. With a novice 8+ that is coming along very well and now enough guys to fill a second, we are on the way to a very successful year. Granted about 5 of them “think” they will be doing a spring sport. But I am sure that your pristine manners and, unbelievable intellect will cause them to reconsider. Last year we constantly were talking about taking the next step, today we began to crawl.

Categories: FC, Rowing, Coaching

A new position

I've always wanted to coach college rowing. Club, varsity, women, men, it didn't matter. I believed that situation would fit me very well, given my college experiences. I also plan on coaching at the college level after Emily is done with her doctorate and we leave Pittsburgh.

So, I really jumped at the opportunity to become the assistant coach for the University of Pittsburgh. This early in my career, this was a great "step up" and the additional income is welcome in our household. More important, learning under an experienced coach and international oarsman like Dan Grancea is a valuable education. I really have been making things up as I go along with the FC guys, and it will be comfortable to learn a new rowing style and have somebody to back-stop me from making "rookie" mistakes. My first two years with FC have seen a few goofs by me that got in the way of the guys. Thankfully, I don't believe they blame me for any of these, and I'm always willing to own up to my screwups.

While I'm still just getting my feet wet and learning all the names, a few impressions have already jumped to the forefront. The Pitt rowers are passionate about the sport, perhaps more than I was in college. While I had a comfortable situation, with travel, uniforms, equipment and food expenses paid for, they have to fund-raise all these things. I trained hard. They train just as hard, then give more time in the organization and funding of the club.

Finally, they get up for a 5:30am practice five days a week. Some row twice a day, here in the fall. Imagine how much undergraduates must want success in this sport to maintain those sort of hours. Heck, some undergrads are still crawling home from late-night parties on Friday morning when these guys are launching boats. Such dedication can only pay great dividends in the future, and I'm very impressed by such devotion. I hope that I prove worthy enough to lead such rowers.

I'll be able to keep coaching the FC boys, but I'll have to step back from them a little. There will be conflicts between the two crews, and I'll have to go with Pitt in that situation. Hopefully, I can become as close with the Pitt crew as I am with the FC boys.

Categories: Pitt, College, Rowing, FC

Four years later

The disaster throughout the Gulf Coast has rightly captured the attention of Americans. Thousands dead and missing, citizens scattered in shelters throughout the region, overwhelmed state and federal services and the political fallout make for compelling coverage in the 24-hour news cycle. Thus shall pass the four year anniversary of September 11th, with few mentions and fewer reflections.

Perhaps this is how it should be. As a country, we've moved on. The terrorist mastermind responsible for that awful morning is still at large, and fighting continues in Afghanistan. A country that stood united, ready to shoulder any sacrifice is now turned inward, pledging support on telethons again for the victims of a preventable catastrophe.

Yes, I said it. Again, our government has dropped the ball, leaving citizens dead, homeless and unprotected. Twice in four years, our government has been warned of impending disaster. Twice there has been no response and Americans have died. This is a failure of a basic purpose of government.

Governments are formed so citizens have protection from outside threats they cannot control themselves. No matter anyone's political outlook, everyone agrees on this. Why else have government? Individual people cannot build fighter aircraft, interstate highways or flood control levies.

A search of pre-Katrina articles yields an astounding piece published just last year in National Geographic. In October 2004, the magazine predicts the aftereffects of a category III hurricane hitting New Orleans. Geographic predicted the damage, followed by flooding from levies unable to hold back the storm surge. Perhaps the article was ignored because the magazine also highlighted the loss of "barrier" land south of New Orleans due to overcontrol of the river. See, they were just alarmist environmentalist wackos.

The city of New Orleans had asked for additional federal money to shore up the levies. The Army Corps of Engineers had earmarked that program as a high priority. Instead, the federal government gave money for a multi-million dollar bridge to an island in Alaska inhabited by 50 people. Other pork-barrel spending in the last two transportation bills rivals that bridge in ridiculousness.

The left wing talking heads gleefully place blame on the administration. The right wing talking heads spin blame to the democratic governor and mayor, and decry the "blame game" as injecting "politics" into a terrible disaster. I agree. Politics has been injected into this mess, because our government is a political construct and our government is not following its basic "by the people and for the people" foundation.

Party does not matter at this point. Our elected officials have turned away from the reason they are put in power: to serve the people. Staying in power has become the basic purpose of elected officials, followed by doing favors, usually with the people's money, for their political friends. All of them, democrat and republican, need to go. Every single stinking, self-serving, pork-barrel spending, log-rolling, buck-passing, camera-chasing, incompetent elected official from the Vacationer in Chief down to the moron who didn't release city buses to evacuate New Orleans.

I've had enough of watching our government serve everyone but the people. I've had enough of watching people die because they don't have the political pull to get the government protection they pay taxes for. I'm tired of watching the ruling political class in this country connive to keep each other in power. The new parties should be the incumbents vs. The challengers, and I'm voting straight challengers.

Categories: Politics

A boy and his 1st car

Between crew, marching band and driving my sister around, my parents had decided to get me a car when I turned sixteen. It was made very clear that this car wouldn't be anything special. When I asked my mother to make sure it had a radio, she said that I'd be lucky if it had A/C.

I was drinking coffee and playing cards with my friends at our favorite hangout on a Sunday afternoon. I knew that my parents were out on the car search. They didn't let me go along because my father was sure I would screw up any deal he made. I didn't expect them to bring the car to the Cafe, but I jumped up with a shout when I saw my father get out of the Tercel you see here. I already had my license, so he sent me around the block after assuring me it was mine.

I should have been warned. There was an A/C switch, but no cold air came out when you pushed it. The car had no power steering, the driver's seat was tilted to one side and the door lock didn't work. The odometer read about 54000. There was no sixth number beyond the 5, so we weren't sure if that meant 154000 or 254000. The seller wasn't sure either, as it had been his mother's. My parents had spent $500. They added another $700 fixing the lock and the seat.

This was a 1980 Tercel hatchback. It had a three-speed automatic. There had never been power steering on that car, so it couldn't be added. There was no A/C compressor to fix. I spent $300 (a princely sum for a sixteen year old) for a new radio and speakers.

It was called "Beene's Bomber" or "Skuban's Slider" by my friends. Other, less complimentary names based upon the color of the car won't be mentioned here. I never cared, it was a great car that got better gas mileage than my friends, leaving more money to spend on coffee and food at the Cafe. It was also very light, making the drive to crew a lot of fun as I floored that ancient motor up a twisting country road.

The car finally gave up just before I graduated when the back struts rusted through the body, leaving the rear wheels "squatting" and grinding against the body. Some lunatic wanted the engine and paid us $500 for it. It was a great car for a teenager, and I'll always miss it, even though I nearly sat in the back seat to drive it.

Categories: Memories, Personal, Photo

Searching for pictures

We're in Cincinnati this holiday weekend. As many people may know, women love to look through their in-laws' photo albums. When you're dating, they are looking for embarrassing baby pictures. When you're engaged, they're looking for pictures of old girlfriends. When you're married, they look for pictures of you more attractive than you are now.

So Emily loves these pictures taken of my sophomore year at Yale.

Categories: Photo, Personal, Yale, Rowing

Nobody Lost

A season of frustration following several years of losing preceded the Yale sweep of the Thames river in 1996. The varsity, winning over Harvard for the first time in over a decade, lead nearly the entire race. The JV, long known as a "fly and die" crew, built a large lead that Harvard's furious closing sprint couldn't overcome. The freshmen dominated and even the 3V/2F combination won the previous day.

The jubilation in the Yale complex was the apex of a season of internecine competition that sometimes strained the bonds of friendship between the oarsmen. In years past, the second varsity was expect to push the varsity, followed by the lightweight varsity and the heavy "freesh." This familiar pattern was disturbed by that year's freshman class, who dogged the varsity's wake, beat the lightweights a majority of the time and dominated the second varsity. The "freesh" were cocky, knowing they were going to Henley after their win at Eastern Sprints. Only a weak Harvard freshman boat stood in the way. Looking for tougher competition, the freshman coach had his crew race time trials over the 3 mile JV distance, rather than the traditional 2 mile freshman race. The JV was not amused.

Watching possible future spots in the varsity melt away to the freesh, the JV's frustration had been growing all season. While a few members had shuffled back and forth into the varsity, this was more a sign of trouble in the top boat than their ability. They knew the head coach was looking for a lineup. The question was if next year's lineup would include any of them, with the ability of the freesh so apparent. The first time trial had not gone well, with the JV losing to the freesh and not coming close to the varsity. Only a heavy effort held off the combination crew, fortified by five members of the undefeated second freshman boat.

The varsity was also discontented. Twice they had faced Harvard during the season and lost both races. Coming nearly a length behind in 5th place at Sprints was bad enough, with the freesh jubilantly collecting shirts from their comeback win. A much-publicized race on the Atlanta Olympic course earlier between Yale, Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge hadn't been any closer. Yale had only beaten Cambridge, and trailed Harvard by more than an length.

Furthermore, the varsity had been through three different lineups, with a different stroke in each. In desperation, the head coach had even starboard stroked the boat for a week, looking for a spark. Yet the freesh still sniffed at their heels, forcing the varsity to higher efforts to hold them off. In frustration, a varsity member had been heard to yell "GO AWAY!" during a 5 minute piece in which the freesh refused to concede more than 5 seats.

The final time trial only made the freesh more cocky. As the varsity started a mile away and the freshmen and JV waited at the 3 mile start, the freshman coach forbid his charges to use their flutter until after 2 miles had passed. As the varsity came even, off the JV and freesh went. The JV had heard the command and pressed aggressively. Their races had always been of the "fly and die" sort, taking a large lead and holding off the other crews if possible. Over two miles, the JV built a full length lead over the freesh, though the varsity broke away by a length of open water. The JV didn't care. An entire year of frustration was being burned in this race. Happy shouts were heard in the boat. Then came the last mile pole.

What followed might best be described as an interception returned for a touchdown, followed by a fumble on the kickoff, returned for a touchdown. The flutter unleashed by the freshman boat was that devastating. In twenty furious strokes, they went from a length down on the JV to a length up. From following the JV to challenging the varsity yet again. Video taken in the coaches' launch recorded the disbelieving curse from the head coach. While the varsity was forced to respond with a flutter of their own, the JV tried to figure out what happened. They took back three seats before the freesh started their sprint sequence, trying to stay with the top boat.

The varsity house was gloomy that afternoon. Friction continued with the strutting freesh. The JV didn't like their chances against Harvard. Nobody mentioned the varsity race.

As race day approached, practice work against other boats slacked off. The oarsmen started to come together a little. Then came the uprising of the combination crew, the day before the race. After crushing Harvard over the upper 2 miles of the course, they took The Rock, vowing it would be blue the next morning (this is a subject for another story.) At 10pm that night, they set it afire in the shape of a Y. Their yells could be heard across two miles of water, and the Yale camp answered with screams of their own.

The freshman event the next day was dramatic only for its dominance. The Yale coxswain vowed to defeat Harvard by more than the combination's margin of 18 seconds. He drove his crew like a crazed charioteer, ignoring instructions from the coach not to flutter or sprint if he was far in front. Exhausted, the freesh shouted to "Time it!" as they crossed the line. They won by 23.



The JV event was held as the winds began to increase. Blasting out to a two length lead, the JV battled the rising waves. Harvard's closing charge was blunted by the wind, waves and refusal of the JV to yield. They won by less than a boatlength.

The varsity race was delayed as the wind kicked up higher. Whitecaps appeared on the racecourse. Secluded in the manager's house, the 9 members had nothing to do but talk to each other. Having every other boat in the house win increased their confidence. If the JV could win, if the varsity could hold off those dominant freesh, then they could take Harvard. As one member said later, "We raced every practice. Battles, every practice. Having everyone else win told us that we could, and that made a huge difference."

Stroking the Yale varsity was Peter Stroble, an international-level lightweight. He had left the lightweight team to race in the Harvard-Yale regatta, and had been put in the stroke seat that week. It was enough time. Starting just before darkness, Stroble led the Yale eight down the 4 mile course at a soul-searing rate of 37 strokes per minute. Harvard waited for Yale to slack off from this impossible pace. By the final mile mark, it was apparent Stroble would not yield, and the rest of the boat would not give this decade-anticipated win away. As Yale crossed the line, the rest of the team jumped into the river, jubilantly swimming out to the boat.

That varsity win was built by a senior class that had trained hard. It was also a complete team win, from the second freesh to the varsity stroke. The close competition all season had forged a toughness in the varsity members that served them well during Stroble's incredible charge. They never dropped off the power or allowed rush to creep into the rhythm. They simply called upon the push the lower boats on the team gave them all year.

Categories: Memories, Yale, Rowing, Motivational, Regattas

What is it with the weather here?!?!

Beautiful, hot weather with no rain all summer.

Then school starts and the temps drop 10 degrees.

Then the rain starts.

Then a hurricane remnant heads for us.

We're going to get flooded again, I can feel it. Blast, blast, blast.

Today and tomorrow, we'll have to be prepared for anything, including an indoor practice. Perhaps that might not be a bad thing, as the guys need a few more days to stew up the competition between boats. Just to keep things interesting.....

Categories: Training, Rowing, Coaching

That sound you hear

is the sound of a heavyweight gauntlet hitting the floor. I didn't believe the time, but I know I was a little "conservative" on the finish line. So there it was. 1:29.6, after stuffing themselves with hamburgers.

I'm really keyed up. I'm ready to watch the lights and heavys row at the same time. I'm ready to see what happens on long steady state rows. I'm ready to see who decides It's on first.

I think practice with these two boats will degenerate into a bar fight.

I'm ready for Tuesday. After two years, what I hoped for has come to pass: three experienced eights ready to push each other faster.

This is going to be really fun. It's on!

Categories: FC, Teamwork, Rowing

There is such a thing as too much

I know that I'm perceived as being a little intense. Never happy, always want more effort or training or commitment. There's always somebody somewhere doing more.

Then I thought about the schedule this weekend. Morning row at 7 on Friday. Scavenger hunt at 1:30, some guys golfing, BBQ at 3, row-a-thon at 8 the next morning, followed by a coaches' meeting, followed by a short break and another long row starting at 4. Then some stuff for Pitt on Sunday, all day.

Just a little too much time spent at the boathouse.

So I decided to cancel Friday's early row. I need the sleep, it looks like. Otherwise, I might as well move into the boathouse, because gas is killing me back and forth.

Sleep in, fellows!

Categories: Coaching, Training, Rowing

The FC crew has a tradition of siblings joining up and doing very well. Here's novice practice yesterday, with Dave's sister, Robin, stroking the tanks like her brother. Is good rowing genetic? 

Categories: FC, Rowing, Photo

Here's Tuesday morning's row, heading for downtown. 

Categories: FC, Rowing, Photo

Will loves coming to practice and watching the "big boys" 

Categories: Will, Rowing, Photo

Novices are always a bit scared of the first time rowing all 8. However, after surviving such an adventure without a crab, flip or other disaster, their rowing always gets better with confidence. 

Categories: FC, Rowing, Photo