Handball-Football Balance

I will be brief, as there is already too much out there on this topic, and that is part of the problem. Thierry Henry committed a foul in a football game. In the game against Ireland he did not get caught for performance enhancing drugs, he did not go cleats up into a tackle, he did not head butt an opponent, he did not taunt an opponent or official with expletives, he did not premeditate any illegal action, and he did not dive. Henry made an illegal play. He admits that. However, it is utterly ridiculous that people mention his act in the same breath as pre-meditated doping, or intent to injure actions. A game moves so fast, you react so fast, he stuck his hand out, he did not go into that play thinking “I will hand this ball”.

The bigger issue: it has exposed to everyone that we take sport far too seriously. Apparently FIFA is considering suspending Henry for at least a portion of the World Cup, when the correct thing to do would have been to replay the game. But then again, they can’t do that, because that sets a precedent that could get out of control, and they want to maintain a facade of control over something they have purposefully let get beyond them: the fact the spectacle of sport at this level is somehow larger than life. It is just a game. 22 men chasing a ball around a park.

Sport in life is important, it can bring joy, exercise, camaraderie, and give us role models. Yet, it is not important enough to take politicians, journalists, and our thoughts away from what really matters when we get a bit disgruntled, when we want to blow something out of proportion. It is not so important that the character of Henry needs to be stamped upon. He is simply a man, who had a stimulus-response reaction.

Finally, I feel utterly horrible for the referee and linesman. Their careers in sport at the international level are likely finished. What they must have gone through, and be going through is not worth it. Frankly, the sport has let them down, as Wenger explains below. I love competition, I love sport, I get intense, I have made split second reactions like Henry’s that were illegal in sporting competitions. I make mistakes sometimes. I have played sport at a decent level, and continue to coach. I do not dope, I do not intend to injure, I respect my opponents and officials, I work hard, my character means a lot to me. I suspect these statements are the same for Henry, and I suspect they are the same for the officials of the match. The only things is, I don’t play in, or officiate international matches. How are you different from Henry or those officials? Think about that the next time you read, watch, or say anything else about this incident.

I’ve said more than enough, there are many other things we should be focusing on in this world. The resources devoted to this are insanely unbalanced. I will let someone who knows far more about football than I, and a country-man of Henry, tie things up. Get over it – let’s move on – let’s get some balance back.

Movember & Prostate Cancer

Readers of this blog know that the author encourages you to be aware of and support causes fighting all kinds of cancers. This month though, marks an increased awareness of one particular type. After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in our country,* even though less than half the population has a prostate. It is estimated that one in six males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.** Taken a few other ways, that stat equates to three guys on my hockey team, three guys at my place of work, and four guys from a gathering I was at on Saturday.

Thus, the author is participating in Movember. An awareness event that originally began in Australia, that promotes knowledge, screening, and fundraising for prostate cancer. The challenge is to grow a moustache for the entire month, beginning clean shaven on November 1st. It is not a competition, but a campaign. The official “rules” suggest that one not grow a beard to adjoin said ’satche. However, the author is aware – due to past experience pictured here (for those that can login to flickr) – that a moustache makes him look incredibly sleazy and may jeopardize his employment, relationships, and standing in the community. Thus, he has been bending the rules a bit and growing a small beard as well to lessen the sleaze – if only somewhat. He will shave this beard portion off though, leaving only the moustache at the end of the month. You can help decide for how many days he will go just moustache. For every $5 donated here he will increase the moustache only visage by one day, and bite the bullet to go to work, go out in public, and try to be an upstanding citizen while sporting a downright despicable form of facial hair. Example: $20.00 = moustache only from Nov. 26-Nov. 30. Want to force his hand – here you go: http://ca.movember.com/mospace/472979.

Now, I am well aware that many of you already make careful choices about cancer charities you support, and as you may know from previous postings, it is the Terry Fox Foundation which I often prioritize. I am not here to sway these sentiments. The money is not the primary purpose of this posting. The main objective is to increase awareness of a type of cancer that is defeated 95% of the time if caught early. As you may have heard, males, as a generalization, are not the best at pursuing personal health issues with a doctor, especially those in this particular region of the anatomy. Yet, in the case of prostate cancer, the only excuse is stubbornness – and that’s not good enough. If you are male you need to be aware. If you are a wife, girlfriend, partner, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, or friend you can be supportive of this awareness.

The mousatche/beard I’m sporting has already increased awareness in people I come into contact with. People at work, friends, and family have all inquired after the reason behind it. Thus, I must hand it to the people who came up with the idea – it works great. It certainly is a talking point, which is well suited, as so should prostate cancer. As you are out and about for the remainder of Movember, be sure to try and spot others sporting the ’stache, give ‘em props, and don’t be afraid to talk it up – being aware is the biggest step.

*-Canadian Cancer Society Statistics- 2008 new cases and 2009 estimated new cases of cancer.
**-Prostate Cancer Canada website: http://www.prostatecancer.ca/Prostate-Cancer.aspx

Remembrance Day 2009

You are likely fortunate enough to have a holiday on Wednesday. If you are able, please take the opportunity to attend a Remembrance Day Ceremony near you. They often last no more than an hour. Here is a partial list of some of the ceremonies, but I know for a fact there are many more. Every municipality and city in Metro Vancouver has at least one, if not two cenotaphs, and each one will be hosting a ceremony. A simple Google search with your town’s name and “Remembrance Day 2009″ will likely result in information about your local service. If you are interested in joining me at one, please let me know.

Canada has given over 100,000 of its sons and daughters, including over 100 recently. Please attend.

Lest We Forget – N’ Oublions Pas

PS 22 Chorus & Updates

A few weeks ago I stumbled upon this elementary school choir on youtube, and I was smitten. I have finally got around to sharing the PS 22 Chorus with you here as I feel you should check them out. The balance part of the blog might ask: is this appropriate for an elementary school choir? You know what, this is just too cool, and look at the kids, they are having too much fun: this is appropriate!! I wish I sounded half as good, and am glad music brings these kids joy, it should. I couldn’t decide on a single song to share with you, I like these four below, each for a different reason. They have a host of many other songs on youtube, or simply check out their blog at: http://ps22chorus.blogspot.com/. Having trouble surviving while playing in the cold? Take this musical journey to the eye of the tiger and you’ll be running this town while living life. Which one is your favourite? Also: as a reminder, I try to keep the secondary pages (about, currently…) up to date even when I don’t post here, from time to time anyways, and now is one of those times.

Wolf Photo

BBC Wildlife Magazine and London’s Natural History Museum award annual wildlife photography awards. This year’s winner of the Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year award went to Jose Luis Rodriguez for his absolutely amazing shot of a wolf in flight – so to speak. I recommend you check out his photo and the other winners by going here: Leaping Wolf Snatches Photo Prize. It also explains the painstaking efforts that went into making this shot happen.

While I do give him credit for a well planned and well executed shot, he did have to rely upon a lot of technology. We are about balancing ideas out here, so maybe we should ask: as a result, can it be given the same credit as other wildlife shots?

It’s still a wicked capture.

Books for Asia

Should Books for Asia be sending what we deem to be a good children’s book to a school in Thailand? It was a twitter post by Nicholas Kristof, a reporter for the NY Times, that put me on to this. Regular readers (all three of you) may wonder why I would ask such a silly question. I have written here before promoting fiction for children, and how a well written children’s story can be beneficial to us all. Books rank as one of the best possible material gifts one can give in my opinion. Further, literacy is a keystone to success within North American culture. Thus, I too wonder a bit at my question. Yet, what if we considered things a bit more deeply? Maybe you should watch the video first.

Some questions you might have asked: Is the happiness of these children dependent upon stories from North America? Do these children not dream already? In many ways these stories are nonsensical – what kind of ideas do they put into children’s heads? Why should your favourite book from a shortlist of five be the one that gets sent to this school? Shouldn’t the culture, community, and teacher select the book?

Just asking.   The video is well put together.   I kind of like nonsensical ideas sometimes.   I am going to vote for a book.   You’ll have to decide if you are.   I like the song.   Do you have the answers to these questions?   My answers are just more questions.   Except, I like books.

You can find out more, and vote here: http://bookvote.asiafoundation.org/

Sunsets, Smiles, and Summers

I smile, without melancholy, knowing the best is not even there. Instead, I have taken it with me. Hoping that we all do, and looking forward to the future. It is the memories, not the place, which are important.

Happy Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving just might be my favourite holiday. This statement has been met with a few quizzical looks lately, but I am prepared to back it up. It is a celebration that combines tradition and flexibility. Friends and family gather or connect without the stress of gift giving or pressure of other holidays. It is of a secular nature, but can be recognized as important for any number of faiths. Most of all, it emphasizes something that is explicitly simple, yet overwhelmingly important: reflection on and expression of thanks. In other words, it has a sublime balance to it.

While it is important to be grateful throughout the year, this weekend’s holiday helps us draw attention to those things we are thankful for. Relationships, particularly family and friends, are consistently first on my list of things I am thankful for. Last year’s Thanksgiving post was focused on relationships, and a year later I am even more appreciative and fortunate to have people in my life that make me a better person. However, on this Thanksgiving I want to note that I am thankful for my health and physical condition. We often say we are glad to have good health, and wish good health on those we care about, but I find recently that I am rather humbled and extremely grateful to do so much that I probably take for granted. Without being healthy I would not have been able to visit so many of the places I have been to in this word. I would not have been able to engage in so many of the activities that bring me joy. Many of the relationships in my life are fostered by activities that would be impossible if I was not healthy. Finally, my day to day existence is completely easy due to my state of fitness. In short, I am extremely fortunate, and as a result, extremely thankful.

From this extends thanks to specific people. I am thankful to my parents who instilled within me a priority for health and fitness. I am thankful to my friends and family who inquire after my health and encourage me to take care of myself (yes, even though I am stubborn). I am thankful to those friends who I go on outdoor physical adventures with as they place safety and health above accomplishments, records, and summits.

On a specific note, I am thankful for everything I have been, and will be involved in this weekend: spending time with a number of close friends I care about, listening to live music, laughing with friends and family, being active outdoors with awesome people I care about, spending time with family, spending time with little buddies I care about, playing hockey, perhaps watching some film, enjoying a fantastic meal, and having the time to reflect and be thankful. What a great Thanksgiving, filled with so many things that bring me joy, and it’s mainly due to some of you who are reading. I don’t think I could ask for a better one.

I hope you get to spend time with people you care about this weekend.

Merci – Thank you – Happy Thanksgiving!
IR

Fortunate City

Walking

Originally uploaded by irober.

The author is quite grateful and fortunate to live in the part of the world that he does, and finds it helps bring him balance. Perhaps this photo connects with that, perhaps it doesn’t. It is a happy time near where the author lives. Do you get balance out of where you live? Or do we create balance within the environment we live in? That’s all I got for now. I mentioned earlier things would be brief here for a while.

Resume play.

Summer Quotes – 2009

With the passing of the autumnal equinox and summer having officially come to an end a few days ago it’s time to recall some of the one liners of the preceding season. This follows the successful post of a year ago, and me not really feeling up to generating original content right now. So, from the past season of frivolity, camping, longer days, weddings, and travel comes the following collection of remarks. Please feel free to add your own in the comments. Gotta love the quotes of summer!

“First rule of Rainforest Club: don’t touch anything in the Rainforest.” – Rainforest club members.

“A very warm welcome and Buenos Dias to… <insert new person or place here>” – Daniel

“Don’t be that guy”     “But somebody has to be that guy”     “Okay, be that guy” – on the d-floor

“oooooooo, I hope we see a bear!” – E

“I thought it was a puma… turned out it was a tree mouse.” IR, in jest

“Perhaps you need a life coach” – B

“Stupid stove, stupid craigslist” – A…. “Alright, let’s not panic.” – IR

“Why is the shade over there?” – J

“Fifth rule: write down the rules.”