I want my MTV

So I am flipping the channels today and I stop on MTV's 'True Life'. It is an episode about 2 people, Christopher 16, and Amanda 21, who were born deaf.

I happened to catch the show towards the end just before Chris got his cochlear implant. He was in the office with his mother doing some tests. Shortly after a few standard 'beeping' tests the therapist spoke to him, and for the first time in his life he could hear her. His mother spoke to him and, for the first time ever, he heard the sound of his own name.

He left the office hearing the sound of the wind, the cars, people walking, birds singing, leave rustling, wind chimes chiming, drums beating, and people talking.

The next day he went to school and heard his friends voices for the first time, teachers, the school bell, the lockers slamming, etc. He kept saying that (through signing and subtitles) he could hear people talking. As the show moved along it he stated that it would be a couple of years before he would be understand the language.

What??? What did he mean he had to learn to understand the language? Then it occurred me: if he had never heard the words before how was he to understand the language? It was something that I had never thought of before. When he has thoughts, how are his thoughts formed? Typically people think in their native tongue, but how does he translate his thoughts? Think about it.

I only caught about 15 minutes of the show, but it was very emotional. The look on his face when he heard his name for the first time was very moving. Yes, I cried a little. It was very cool to see this kid walk around and see his interaction as his world was changing all thanks to that implant.

Remember when all MTV showed was music videos?

Can you say: 'Raw-suit'?

The LPGA has decided to put forth a policy that will suspend players who don't pass an english test. My assumption is that many sponsors are using the large Korean contingent and their broken english as scapegoats as to why they won't hand over sponsorship dollars.

Let's get to the real issue here:

Americans love it when Americans win.

They don't want to see another Kim, Park or Lee hoist trophy after trophy on their home turf. THAT is the reason it is difficult for the LPGA to gain sponsorship. Period.

Reality Check:

There are 2 American's in the top 10 on the LPGA money list, 2 Swedes, a girl from Taiwan, a Mexican, and 4 Koreans. In fact, you have to go down to #20 on the money list to find american Laura Diaz...wait, nope, I'm wrong, you have Jane Park at 19, but she doesn't count as an American does she? She, afterall, IS a Park (just kidding Jane of course you count--you just get swept up in this nonsense). If the #1 player in the world was American and there was 5 others in the top 10 and another 5 in the top 20, this wouldn't be an issue AT ALL.

So, the LPGA has taken bold action and is clamping down on those stuttering, english fumbling, (foreign) Korean players. Nice job (is there a rolls eye icon on here?) What world am I living in???? Can they do this? Can they really dictate such a thing??? I mean a large part of playing golf is being quiet!

Sure there are other responsibilities that go along with being a top player, but let's be honest here, Annika spoke english very well but her personality was so bland it didn't much matter what she said since most people tuned her out after just a few words anyway. I am not sure that the inability for these players to speak english is the real issue. If the LPGA is going be outrageous and force the players into something, make it mandatory for players to not be boring. That might actually help matters.

The foreign players have enough to worry about when coming to America like: how the heck am I going to park this huge car I am driving, or why in the world did they give me this mountain of food to eat? and why do I have to shop in the children's section for my clothes? Now along with their mothers, fathers and swing coaches following them around all day, they now have to an english teacher in tow as well?

If I were Korean, I would learn an english word alright: "lawsuit". It might come out as 'raw-suit', but I think the LPGA would understand.

Did you know?

I like watching tennis. I wouldn't say I watch every match during every slam event, but I do watch some. The US Open tennis is on tv and here is what I don't understand: Why is it that in pretty much every major sport we hear plenty about a players salary or what they are playing for, yet in pro tennis it is rarely discussed?

I have thought about this in the past, and it then surfaced again when last night, Ryler Someoneyouneverheardof a qualifier, was playing Nadal. They talked about how he will make $30 000 in the Open compared to the $60 000 or so that he has made all season on his Satellite Tour. I have no idea how much Nadal will make when he wins the US Open, do you?

I decided to look into it and here is what I found out (I posted the research for the singles because that is all we ever see. If you care to see more, click here):

2008 US Open Prize Money Schedule
Singles Amount Totals
Winners	$ 1,500,000
Runners-Up	750,000
Semifinalists	320,000
Quarterfinalists	160,000
Round of 16	80,000
Third Round	46,000
Second Round	30,000
First Round	18,500
TOTAL (128)	$ 7,050,000	$ 14,100,000

Total prize money that gets distributed to the players including doubles, etc is $19 200 000! That is a HUGE purse! Imagine the LPGA or PGA tour asking a sponsor for that much money.
That is some good coin. Hmmm, where did I put that tennis racket??

Some other interesting bits of info:

Nadal, the world's #1, has been a pro since 2001 and has made just under 20 million. This year he has made just under 6 million.

Federer, currently #2, has been a pro since 1998 and has made over $41 million. This year he has made just over $3 million.

Venus Williams turned pro in 1994 and has made over $20 million and has made just under $2 million this season.

Serena Williams turned pro in 1998, has made just over $20 million in her career and is also just under the $2 million dollar mark for the season.

Now we know :)

Magician?

"Magical with the puck" is a phrase used by one of the veteran players used to describe Brassard after a skate at the Chiller in Dublin today.

Massage Therapy

Don't you just love it? I know I do...well, I used to...I still do, but what are they teaching those people these days? Isn't massage supposed to take place in a calm, serene atmosphere with peaceful music and low lighting and limited disturbance?

Three massages ago I had 'Alex'. I walked out of there feeling more slapped around then I did massaged.

Two massages ago I had 'Ashely'. Sounds like a nice, calm, gentle name, right? Wrong. Ashley had a bit of...well a lot of a weight problem to go along with a huge style issue. Her hair was cheaply dyed blue and it hung longer in the front in that: 'A Flock of Seagulls' kind of way. Apparently she is a rocker.

In the end the massage room was far too small for the both of us and the table kept getting knocked around as a result. Not very peaceful nor was she that good of a therapist...similar style to Alex in fact.

Today I had Tanya. A no nonsense black women who seemed to view the parts of the body as a bit of a search and destroy mission. It was good in the sense that she wasn't going to let some pesky knot beat her, but I also knew right from the beginning that there would be lots of pain involved. I was right.

She was into it and really tried to get the "brick"out of my right trapezoid, but in the end time ran out, thank god. That wasn't the real issue though. I have never been pulled, twisted, bent, and yanked on so much in my life! One of her favorites seemed to be to wrap a towel around the wrist and pull the arm until borderline dislocation. What kind of technique is that?

I will admit, however that I am feeling pretty nimble. Sore and beat up, but nimble. It was 107*F today, and you will have to excuse me, I am about to submerge myself in a hot bath laced with Epsom Salt...Tanya's orders.

15 Days...

...until the Blue Jackets rookie camp begins. The season opener in Columbus is going to be on the 17th of Oct vs. Nashville. The old jackets could never beat the Preds so a win on opening night vs. that team will be dramatic and could really signify change.

Personally I will be a mess opening night. I get really emotional at the start of just your average regular season game. I have to divert my thoughts onto something drab or anything not related to the moment so that I don't shed tears. I am not even joking. I get all caught up in the excitement and emotion of the crowd, the thought of those guys experiencing something that they have dreamed about since they were little guys and I lose it.

Opening night with a new look team and the tribute that will be paid to Mr. Mac is surely going to put me over the edge. The arena will be filled with mixed emotions and I am sure I won't be the only one who will be reaching for the kleenex. Mr. Mac meant a lot to the City of Columbus and his legacy will live on forever. I look forward to this team taking themselves to the next level and finally paying him the tribute that he deserves.

This is who I am...

Welcome to the first edition of Fairways, Dreams and the Miles in Between. Expect to read a little about my day to day activities, thoughts, and the odd rant about a myriad of topics. I can be all over the map both literally and figuratively so buckle up.

That's me on the left. The guy on the right is the guy who gets to hear pretty much everything that you will read here, plus a lot more AND without a filter. Poor guy. He is a good sport and he is every bit a part of this journey. In fact, without him there wouldn't really be much to write about.

I actually think this blogging thing is going to be right up my alley. It is an environment that is completely controlled by me, I can write as often or as little as I like on any topic, and can delete any comments that I deem...shall we say, inappropriate.

I used to write a journal but my handwriting, that wasn't really even that good on a good day, has gotten worse. Ooh, it is bad now. Also, I can already tell that my best friend in this blog is going to be my Dictionary/Thesaurus widget. I have already accessed it 4 times in this brief intro.

So here it is, my first blog entry...

I just got back from being on the road for about 4 weeks and I am back in my house trying to move back in. Unpack, do laundry, restock my fridge, move out of tour bag and back into carry bag, get xbox back and running. Outside of a little trip to Phx. on the 1st, I will be home for over a month. Looking ahead to that month of stability feels nice. I will likely be bored in about a week though ha!

The last 4 weeks were a bit of a roller coaster. The CPGA was good fun, and the Canadian Open...not so much. Well, I should say it was fine until the actual golf started. That was a bit of a nightmare, but looking back, it was a massive learning opportunity and I feel like I have gleaned from it a lot of the necessary bits so that I can move forward. I spent the last week with Steve getting my technique back in shape and the week before that with Kimberly getting my brain back in shape. I feel good again.

I am really excited for the jacket's season to start. On paper there is much to be excited about, but the west is so tough so I am trying to engage the defense mechanism that I have developed over the years, the one that doesn't allow me to get too far ahead of myself. Having to control oneself is very inconvenient sometimes.