The most exciting time of the year (For me, at least)

Just feel it necessary to bitch for a few minutes about March Madness and my bracket this year. Going into the second half of the Sweet Sixteen games tonight, I have all of two teams still alive. Ohio State (my pick to win it all) and Richmond (my Cinderella).


What the fuck? Seriously. I didn't follow college basketball this season, but this tournament has been a giant mindfuck. Butler? Again? How about Arizona barely getting by Memphis, then beating everyone's trendy Texas pick and then kicking the crap out of the Yankees of college basketball, Duke? Marquette getting by Syracuse. Who would've had VCU and Florida State playing for a chance to go to the Elite Eight? Most people were pissed that VCU even got in. 


If there is one year where the selection committee seriously screwed up, this would be the year. It is still feasible that nobody higher than a #5 seed could be in the Final Four. That shouldn't happen. We all love to root for the underdog, but not four underdogs. 


On a bit of a sidenote, I'd have to say right now I am pulling for Butler. They came so unbelievably close last year, coming within one shot of being the national champion. This year, somehow they still managed to fly under the radar and now experts are surprised again that they are in contention. That program over there is not one to underrate. I love Matt Howard, believe he plays harder than any man out there and his intensity is awesome to watch. I hope they kick the shit out of Florida in the next round. 

The same thing happened to me last year, but this is always a time when I seriously miss my time at ESPN. I had the chance to work there during tournament time in 2009 and let me say, I don't think anything will ever measure up. I (somehow) never manage to friend people who care about sports as much as I do, therefore I have nobody to get excited with when something ridiculous happens in the tournament. Hell, I was at work the other day and I asked a few people if they knew what was happening in the tournament, and they didn't even know what it was! I didn't think there was a soul out there who didn't know what it was. 


Anyway, the best part of being at ESPN and watching these games was the reactions of the others working there. People who watch SportsCenter on a regular basis only see the anchors on camera. Very boring, objective, etc. That is not even close to the case off the camera. I had the luxury of watching that ridiculous six overtime game between Syracuse and UConn two years ago with Scott Van Pelt and John Buccigross (two consummate professionals) and it was like watching it with two 15-year olds rooting for their favorite teams. It was incredible. The entire studio went insane at every shot. I've never been around that many sports fans at one time and I'm not sure I ever will be again. I miss it so much.


Another sidenote, that was the year my bracket did the best, for obvious reasons. I had the chance to watch all the games leading up to the tournament, and I knew more about college basketball (and hockey, for that matter) than I had before or since. 


Why do I want to work in sports so badly? That's why. The atmosphere, something that is truly lacking in my current life. I want to be surrounded by sports fans, people who care about it as much or more than I do. I'm tired of having to explain why the NCAA tournament is exciting, and important. I want people that know the answer and can get as excited as I do when Matt Howard hits that last second bucket to move onto the next round. 


Song currently stuck in my head:
Hearts on Parade- American Hi-Fi

An Ode to Characters

It's amazing who you meet throughout your life.


I know I constantly bitch about my job. And the truth is, yes I absolutely hate it. Hate it. As cocky and arrogant as it sounds, I believe it is below me. I know I am unbelievably overqualified for it. But that isn't the point of this post. 


When I first started at Sam's, I was always under the impression that the people who work there are just people who have no ambition, who can't speak English, and who just never wanted to do anything with their lives. While that is true for a few of the people there, I have discovered that I was still way off base. In corporate America (where I probably want to work one day), there seems to be a very generic person who works there. Suit, tie, very bland personality, etc. (Again, I do admit this doesn't hold true for everybody, but I'm generalizing here)


The people I work with now could not be more different. They each have a very distinct personality, and for the most part they get to be themselves, in and out of work. In 9 months (yes I've been working there 9, longgggg, months) I have met,


-Someone who can manage to care about all others without having a ulterior motive, something I envy
-A 19 year old mother who (while struggling) has a glow and hope in her eyes like no other when she talks about her daughter
-An Indian woman who is nicer than any American I've ever met
-A 30-something beautiful and sweet Russian woman who has a dress sense that would put 18 year olds to shame
-A 29 year old who has no ambition and no people skills, who is convinced he cannot be wrong
-A woman who looks more like John Lennon than John Lennon
-2 women who are dumber than I ever thought it was possible to be
-A woman who has gone through a worse tragedy than I could possibly imagine, yet still comes to work with a smile on her face (G.M.H)
- An Indian man who could easily be a motivational speaker
-A 60-something man who was once a big-wig at his company, until he get laid off, now trying to work any way he can
-Another 60-something boss of sorts who I wish was my grandfather
-A boss who tries too hard
-A boss who I'm pretty sure was once a man
-And some the smartest, most intelligent people out there


I don't like some of them. Some of them I do. But every one is unique, something many jobs lack. For those of you from work who may be reading this, feel free to speculate which one you are. If I left you out, that doesn't mean anything. 


I hope I am able to meet characters like this throughout my life. But for now, it is truly an experience for me. Everyone in high school blended in. Believe it or not, many in college blended in too. Not in this job. 


You all have had an impact on my life, whether it be big or small. This post is for you. Don't let anybody tell you that you aren't good enough. Yeah, you have a crappy job, so what? That means you are worthless? Absolutely not. I wish you all the best in the future and I hope you are happy and able to accomplish whatever you set your mind to. 


Song currently stuck in my head:
Goodbye, My Lover- James Blunt

#icareaboutnobody

This has really been bugging me. Say you have a friend, or a family member, or anybody you know personally who has a drug problem. Could be anything, from something as little as pot, to something as bad as coke. If you knew that person was struggling, what would you do? I assume, at least for any generally sane person who cares about people at all, you would help them out. Try to get them into a rehab program, try to make them realize they have a problem. I assume you would not crack jokes at their expense, or encourage them to continue to make you laugh.


That is for a personal friend, or somebody you know. So why do celebrities seem to get the raw deal? Because they are rich? Because they make more in a week then most of us will make in five years? So what? They are still human beings. 


This is what I'm seeing with the now-debacle that is Charlie Sheen. The man has some serious issues, obviously. He is a mess, living with porn stars who further his drug habit to get his money, and an endangerment to his kids. Yet for some reason, every time I see something about him, it is nothing but criticism. This is where the "money is the root of all evil" saying comes into play. 

That is the shell of a former acting star

Charlie Sheen has nobody. He has no friends. He has people, that talk to him for his money, for his fame. Yet, is anybody talking to him, saying "hey Charlie, you have a serious problem, you need to get some help". No. This is only furthered by the fact that the general public has now adopted his stupid "winning" and "tigerblood" catchphrases into everyday life. Somebody like Charlie Sheen (who gained over a million followers in a day after joining Twitter) will interpret this as he is doing the right thing, and people are following in his example. From what I heard, he is thinking about going on the road, to do a show of just him, ranting. Seriously?


This seems to happen all the time. If there is one time the general public needs to back off, it is when celebrities have a problem. I know most of us believe they don't deserve the money they are making, but bottom line, they are still human. Most of us would not be able to handle people following us around, documenting every aspect of our lives for 10 mins, let alone an entire lifetime. We look at people like Tom Hanks or Meryl Streep and say, "that is how they are supposed to be acting", when in reality, most celebs can't live up to that. For every Tom Hanks, we get 10 Charlie Sheens. For every Meryl Streep, we get 10 Lindsay Lohans. 


We all have our problems, and some of us would probably look just as bad if our lives were shown to the national public. Leave these people alone. Let them get some help, alone, without cameras following their every move. Charlie Sheen was a great actor. His "Wild Thing" Rick Vaughn may go down as one of the best characters of all time. Now, he is finished. At the rate he is going, he'll probably be dead within a year. 


All I'm saying is none of us are perfect, so stop asking celebrities to be. Support them when they need it, don't make it worse. 


Song currently stuck in my head:
Overrated (Everything Is) - Less Than Jake

Oh, No.

Aargh!!!! According to the X-Ray, there is nothing wrong with my back. NOT what I wanted to hear. I know, that sounds weird, right? But after having so many problems with my back, and my legs, I honestly want them to find SOMETHING. Just so I know it's not all in my head. But nope, nothing. It's frustrating. I know the pain isn't in my head. It causes me to not be able to stand some days. According to my doctor, I just need to stretch. And go to physical therapy for two months. Oh wait, I can't afford it. What a freaking surprise.


But hey, things are kind of starting to look up. Sent in my final piece of material to Quinnipiac. I really hope I get in. After spending months and months being rejected from every job I have applied/interviewed for, I need to accepted into something. For the sake of my own sanity, I need to get out of here. 


On a sidenote, sad news today from my old STN'ers. This video has been circulating the web since yesterday, with Deadspin dubbing it as the "next boom goes the dynamite"

Ugh. We had some horrid shows in the past, but come on, really? That is how STN is going to be represented? I feel bad for you, I really do. But hey, on the positive side, the guy from the boom goes the dynamite thing is doing pretty well, so maybe there is some hope for you yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that that is lowest low you will experience in your television career. And hey, you're famous!


That's pretty much it. It is monsooning in New Jersey right now. My backyard has finally turned into the in-ground pool I've always wanted. Unfortunately, it won't stay like that. We also have a moat! Good times, right?


Disclaimer: Love to STN <3 I'm not criticizing you, because I know I was apart of some bad ones. I just know you guys are capable of so much better. (I'm pretty sure, at least)


Song currently stuck in my head:
Carolina in my Mind- James Taylor