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