I mean seriously, what is up with this crap? It's funny now that the guy is so wrong, but have you taken the time to notice what has become of sportswriting in the newspaper?
The most interesting thing about sports newspaper columns these days is just how bad they are compared to basically anything on espn.com or about 800 blogs, even when I happen to agree with what the author is saying. Most of what Malik has written in two months is better than anything I've read in the Orlando Sentinel EVER. I mean seriously, read this column - it's just attrocious writing, perhaps even worse than my own.
When bomb throwers like former Sentinel columnist Larry Guest were the only game in town, they would annoy me. Now that they're basically irrelevant, I just pity the editorial staff at places like the Orlando Sentinel and Florida Times-Union who actually believe that random inflammatory remarks and this hokey, arrogant "look at me, look at me!" writing style still qualify as good sportswriting. (This style completely permeates Florida sportswriting - tell me, can you think of anything else anywhere that's written in this ridiculous, banal style day after day? The Florida Times-Union opinion section is like reading some pre-menstrual girl's blog about ice cream - "Rocky Road is the WORST flavor EVER because I HATE IT!!!! LOL!!!:):):))
ESPN.com didn't replace my local sports section because it's more convenient - it's actually not more convenient at all. I can't fold my laptop up and bring it to the shitter, I can't get bacon grease all over my laptop at the local diner, and I definitely can't afford to burn my laptop in the fireplace when it pisses me off. I choose it because the column writing doesn't completely *suck* like it does in every single newspaper in Florida and really basically every other paper in the country other than the NY Times, Chicago Tribune, and SF Chronicle.
Actually those papers suck too, why not.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Virgin Soprano
I admit it. This is the first season that I'm watching the Sopranos. I wouldn't say I love it, or that I'm hooked. I'm sort of waiting...waiting to see what it is that gets everyone so worked up. How long will I wait? At least it's on at a great time, I mean, what else is on at 9pm on Sunday night (infamous home of Christina Applegate's Married with Children during my childhood...remember when Bud was trying to be a badass and called himself Grandmaster B? Ed would chide him and make other nicknames, like Bedwetter B. As much as I, and I presume the viewing public, enjoyed this show, I can't believe it's not being syndicated anywhere! but easily found on youtube)?
Ok, so I woke up this morning with three observations about this latest episode of the Sopranos:
1. goth high school kids are extremely misunderstood and do not respond well to tough love from authority figures or peers alike;
2. when you have a gut feeling about an nfl bet, or better yet, an inside tip from a physician on the other team, AND have an opportunity to be your spouse/parter's hard earned dollars, you must INSIST on making the bet, otherwise you will be regretting it for a long time and everyone knows that regret is a tough pillow to sleep on;
3. why did that kid drop a deuce in the shower?
Seriously, why did he poop? and then step in it??
Ok, so I woke up this morning with three observations about this latest episode of the Sopranos:
1. goth high school kids are extremely misunderstood and do not respond well to tough love from authority figures or peers alike;
2. when you have a gut feeling about an nfl bet, or better yet, an inside tip from a physician on the other team, AND have an opportunity to be your spouse/parter's hard earned dollars, you must INSIST on making the bet, otherwise you will be regretting it for a long time and everyone knows that regret is a tough pillow to sleep on;
3. why did that kid drop a deuce in the shower?
Seriously, why did he poop? and then step in it??
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
cheating fuquans part ii
ok, i hear the argument for zero tolerance on cheating. part of me likes that policy, especially since the PR spin could be gorgeous. but what about the other side?
my roommate employs a brilliant consulting technique which has a name that escapes me right now. it's really simple though, you just keep asking why. i think the magic number is asking why 5 times. perhaps the name is the "5-why technique". consultants are so brilliant.
here goes:
1. WHY do people cheat?
--because they are afraid of failing.
2. WHY are they afraid of failing?
--because they have been moderately successful their whole lives so when put in a difficult situation, they choose to succeed at all costs instead of flirt with failure.
3. WHY do they want to succeed at all costs?
--because they feel a sense of entitlement to the degree.
4. WHY do they feel a sense of entitlement to the degree?
-- because they were admitted to the program.
5. WHY were they admitted to the program?
--to give them a degree.
a ha. you see it? i worked hard to make it work out this way, because as i've learned in this little exercise, the 5-why technique can end up with any conclusion, however absurd it may be.
let's assume that from day one, you walk in and think the program is going to give you a degree. it doesn't matter what you do throughout the 2 years. you saw the comment in the previous post: everybody passes. why *wouldn't* you feel entitled to the degree if you were admitted?
i'd be curious to hear what people think about whether you EARNED your degree or if you just finished a curriculum and were GIVEN a degree. there's a subtle difference but changes the entire attitude you would take.
if you had to EARN your degree, would you let anyone cheat off you? conversely, if you knew everyone was going to pass regardless, would you help someone out in the spirit of team fuqua?
my roommate employs a brilliant consulting technique which has a name that escapes me right now. it's really simple though, you just keep asking why. i think the magic number is asking why 5 times. perhaps the name is the "5-why technique". consultants are so brilliant.
here goes:
1. WHY do people cheat?
--because they are afraid of failing.
2. WHY are they afraid of failing?
--because they have been moderately successful their whole lives so when put in a difficult situation, they choose to succeed at all costs instead of flirt with failure.
3. WHY do they want to succeed at all costs?
--because they feel a sense of entitlement to the degree.
4. WHY do they feel a sense of entitlement to the degree?
-- because they were admitted to the program.
5. WHY were they admitted to the program?
--to give them a degree.
a ha. you see it? i worked hard to make it work out this way, because as i've learned in this little exercise, the 5-why technique can end up with any conclusion, however absurd it may be.
let's assume that from day one, you walk in and think the program is going to give you a degree. it doesn't matter what you do throughout the 2 years. you saw the comment in the previous post: everybody passes. why *wouldn't* you feel entitled to the degree if you were admitted?
i'd be curious to hear what people think about whether you EARNED your degree or if you just finished a curriculum and were GIVEN a degree. there's a subtle difference but changes the entire attitude you would take.
if you had to EARN your degree, would you let anyone cheat off you? conversely, if you knew everyone was going to pass regardless, would you help someone out in the spirit of team fuqua?
Monday, April 30, 2007
Cheating Fuquans
Saturday night found me at a really nice, outdoor deck party on Houston and 6th Avenue. With booze flowing freely, insecurity about my own deck in the Village started to creep into my subconscious. We don't have a trelice. Nor do we have the nice wooden furniture or cool elegant lighting. Or plants for that matter.
Just as I was spiraling into despair, a classmate hits me with this serious text message:
"34 Fuquans caught cheating on decision models. on abc.com. Sucks."
I can't find the abc.com article, but here's the local Raleigh report. Would love to hear other thoughts out there.
Some notable commentary from email chains I've seen:
"People have been pretty down on the ‘08s this year for a variety of reasons, which is probably a longer conversation. But my thought is that theirs is just the class that got caught doing something that in one form or another happens year-in and year-out." --current '07 student
"Did they miss the part of orientation where they explain that everyone passes and grades don't matter?" --'04 alumna
"I’ve long suspected various groups of walking on the Honor Code when no one’s looking. My understanding is that this sting struck deep within one particular community of international students, but that’s not been in any way confirmed." --current '08 student
"J.B. Fuqua rolling in his grave..." --'06 alumna
"I have no idea why people still try to do this….of course that might be because for all the one’s that get caught many get away with it." --'05 alumna
Incidentally, Decision Models is going to become an elective next year. Which brings up a whole slew of follow-on questions. At the top of my list is: how are future students going to project the number of attendees at a wedding without the knowledge of crystal ball? and a close second: without the power of excel solver, how will future Fuqua summer interns differentiate themselves?
Just as I was spiraling into despair, a classmate hits me with this serious text message:
"34 Fuquans caught cheating on decision models. on abc.com. Sucks."
I can't find the abc.com article, but here's the local Raleigh report. Would love to hear other thoughts out there.
Some notable commentary from email chains I've seen:
"People have been pretty down on the ‘08s this year for a variety of reasons, which is probably a longer conversation. But my thought is that theirs is just the class that got caught doing something that in one form or another happens year-in and year-out." --current '07 student
"Did they miss the part of orientation where they explain that everyone passes and grades don't matter?" --'04 alumna
"I’ve long suspected various groups of walking on the Honor Code when no one’s looking. My understanding is that this sting struck deep within one particular community of international students, but that’s not been in any way confirmed." --current '08 student
"J.B. Fuqua rolling in his grave..." --'06 alumna
"I have no idea why people still try to do this….of course that might be because for all the one’s that get caught many get away with it." --'05 alumna
Incidentally, Decision Models is going to become an elective next year. Which brings up a whole slew of follow-on questions. At the top of my list is: how are future students going to project the number of attendees at a wedding without the knowledge of crystal ball? and a close second: without the power of excel solver, how will future Fuqua summer interns differentiate themselves?
Friday, April 20, 2007
Mitch & Murray
Speaking for Rio Rancho, I think we'd be remiss in failing to mention the simply masterful Alec Baldwin voicemail performance that has surfaced (inevitably) on the internet. Referring to a missed phone call, AB lets his 11-year old daughter know that he is going to straighten her out on this issue.
This is perhaps Baldwin's finest performance since the equally brilliant "brass balls" escapade in GGGR. One suspects David Mamet himself may have authored this brilliant, unhesitating, two minute diatribe against his own progeny.
As every Baldwin young and old should know, coffee is for closers only, motherfucker.
This is perhaps Baldwin's finest performance since the equally brilliant "brass balls" escapade in GGGR. One suspects David Mamet himself may have authored this brilliant, unhesitating, two minute diatribe against his own progeny.
As every Baldwin young and old should know, coffee is for closers only, motherfucker.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
One for the record books
For those of us toiling away in the rat race, wasting time between mindless tasks at work and mindless tasks at the bar, let me share a heroic story of a woman who decided that she was going to take history into her own hands and try and set a state record: highest breath test reading in state history... 0.47
Monday, April 16, 2007
Behind Every Tall Man
NBA and other sports wives follow a code of conduct that supposedly enables rampant infidelity among players. An Oregon State sociology professor has spent the last four years studying it.
soundtrack to my life
i feel like i'm on the outside of this technology-driven music consumption revolution that's taking place. you know, the same "technology-driven music consumption revolution" you've been reading about and experiencing over the past 5 years. or as most simply recognize it as the ipod era.
with all the new ways to purchase or otherwise acquire new and old music, as well as the technology available to listen and consume at any time (car, workout, shower, killing kittens or not killing kittens as the case may or may not be, etc.), i have sat on the sidelines watching musical obsessions flourish amongst my contemporaries. being in nyc, with all the live music options, has further highlighted my disinterest. i guess it can be summed up in one statement:
music is not very important to me.
i know that's hard to believe, given that i'm a charter member of the NKCDOTMC. i mean i'm interested in downloading albums and listening to new music as a primary activity, but music as a secondary, constant activity is not up my alley. i never cruise around the city with my ipod. my phone, which is also an mp3 player, has exactly 0 songs downloaded on it. even on my longer workouts, i don't really listen to music.
it seems that the world falls into two categories when it comes to music: those that want a soundtrack to life and those who don't. i definitely fall into the latter. i mean, a soundtrack to my life would be a cool little add-on feature, but i am equally entertained with the noise or silence of my surroundings, whether that's honking horns and cell-phone conversations or chirping crickets and the hooting of owls.
for those in the former category, i am quite jealous. there has been a massive buildout of technology to help you achieve your desire and enable your consumption. you can always access your soundtrack.
but alas, for me, my soundtrack will remain filled with the normal everyday cacophony.
with all the new ways to purchase or otherwise acquire new and old music, as well as the technology available to listen and consume at any time (car, workout, shower, killing kittens or not killing kittens as the case may or may not be, etc.), i have sat on the sidelines watching musical obsessions flourish amongst my contemporaries. being in nyc, with all the live music options, has further highlighted my disinterest. i guess it can be summed up in one statement:
music is not very important to me.
i know that's hard to believe, given that i'm a charter member of the NKCDOTMC. i mean i'm interested in downloading albums and listening to new music as a primary activity, but music as a secondary, constant activity is not up my alley. i never cruise around the city with my ipod. my phone, which is also an mp3 player, has exactly 0 songs downloaded on it. even on my longer workouts, i don't really listen to music.
it seems that the world falls into two categories when it comes to music: those that want a soundtrack to life and those who don't. i definitely fall into the latter. i mean, a soundtrack to my life would be a cool little add-on feature, but i am equally entertained with the noise or silence of my surroundings, whether that's honking horns and cell-phone conversations or chirping crickets and the hooting of owls.
for those in the former category, i am quite jealous. there has been a massive buildout of technology to help you achieve your desire and enable your consumption. you can always access your soundtrack.
but alas, for me, my soundtrack will remain filled with the normal everyday cacophony.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Saturday, April 14, 2007
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