It is nice to see the little guy win

Sometimes it is nice to see the little guy win. In the recent “David vs. Goliath” type feud between New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and Oakland Athletics pitcher Dallas Braden, it was Braden who got the last laugh, for now anyway.

Here is what started the whole mess: Rodriguez was off and running when a foul ball was hit off the bat of teammate Robinson Cano. On his way back to first base, Rodriguez trotted right over the pitcher’s mound, which upset Braden.

Following the final out of the inning, Braden started yelling at Rodriguez, who said that he didn’t know that he did anything wrong.

“He just told me to get off his mound,” said Rodriguez. “I was a little surprised. I’d never quite heard that. Especially from a guy that has a handful of wins in his career…I thought it was pretty funny actually.” A-Rod said later that he did not want to extend Braden’s 15-minutes of fame by continuing to talk about the incident.

Braden later said that he was surprised that Rodriguez didn’t realize that you are not to cross the pitcher’s mound during the game and then added that he was surprised that someone of A-Rod’s stature let it slip his mind.

“I don’t care if I’m Cy Young or the 25th man on the roster, if I’ve got the ball in my hand and I’m on the mound, that’s my mound,” Braden said.

One sportswriter took exception to Braden’s action and said that he should know his spot in the game and needs to earn enough capital to run off at the mouth like he did over something “so petty”.

I disagree. As a veteran of the game and a superstar in his own right, whether it is for his play on the field, love life or steroid use, A-Rod should have known better. Let the kid spout off, apologize, and move on. But then again, if you are A-Rod, you have your image and ego to protect.

I agree that you should “know your place” and not overstep your bounds. On the other hand, it isn’t as though Braden was out there mocking A-Rod. He did not bring this on himself; A-Rod did with his own actions, whether accidental or not.

Very few people ever heard of Dallas Braden until his public spat with the Yankee slugger. That is, until he pitched a perfect game on Mother’s Day against the Tampa Bay Rays, which was the first of its kind for the Athletics in 42 years.

What made the moment even more special was the fact that Braden’s mom, Jodie, passed away of cancer when he was a senior in high school. Braden’s grandmother was in the stands and, following the game, she took a shot at her grandson’s nemesis. Telling A-Rod to “stick it”, grandma may have ended the chatter, if only for a while.

When asked to comment on the comments by grandma, A-Rod respectfully declined, but he did take a different tone when talking about game itself. “I’ve learned in my career that it’s always better to be recognized for some of the great things you do on the field,” Rodriguez said in a brief statement during batting practice. “Good for him. He threw a perfect game, and even better, he beat the Rays.”

Ironically, last Mother’s Day, Braden was hit by a line drive off the bat of Vernon Wells.

No matter what side you stand on, Braden’s perfect game, the 19th in Major League history was quite a feat and, if you are not a fan of A-Rod and his antics, the moment was truly golden, even if the game wasn’t against the Yankees.

The other perfectionists: Lee Richmond (1880); Monte Ward (1880); Cy Young (1904); Addie Joss (1908); Charlie Robertson (1922); Don Larsen (1956); Jim Bunning (1964); Sandy Koufax (1965); Catfish Hunter (1968); Len Barker (1981); Mike Witt (1984); Tom Browning (1988); Dennis Martinez (1991); Kenny Rogers (1994); David Wells (1998); David Cone (1999); Randy Johnson (2004); Mark Buehrle (2009).

Submitted by Mark McGlothlen

Harwell, Presidential food and interviewing

Interviewing for a new job can be pretty intimidating, especially if you have not had to do it in a while. One key to a successful interview is to not get tripped up when answering a question.

When you are asked to tell the interviewer about yourself, refrain from going to far into detail. Think more along the lines of what you know and what you have done and how it relates to the job you are applying for. I am sure they really do not care that you won the 5th grade science fair or how you can in last during the 50 yard dash on track and field day.

Do your research. You may be asked to talk a little bit about the company you are interviewing to become a part of. Know who they are, what they do and any community involvement that they participate in.

One big question that is always asked is: Why should I hire you? While it is a fair question, it can be tricky to answer if you are not prepared for it. Again, you want to impress the interviewer about how you qualities best fit their requirements.

Can you work under pressure? The correct answer is YES and follow that up with a brief story on how and what you did. Of course, if time constraints really are not your thing, you might want to be up front and honest.

You may be asked “where do you see yourself in five years?” The best way to answer this is to pinpoint your training, ability and experience and incorporate it into the job you are interviewing for. An answer of “I am not really sure” is not acceptable.

The best thing to remember is that it isn’t really about what you say as it is how you say it. Most hiring managers want to see how you react when thrown a curveball. They want to see a calm, cool demeanor and see that you can think on your feet. (Story from U.S. News & World Report)

Did you know: With the exception of formal White House dinners, the President of the United States receives a bill when meals are consumed in the private residence of the White House? Unlike the rest of us, the President and First Lady do not have to deal with all the madness that a trip to the store can cause!

In a league all HIS own: When Ernie Harwell announced last fall that he was diagnosed with inoperable cancer, it felt like a punch to the gut for me. Harwell was a hero to just about every Detroit Tiger fan out there. A kind-hearted, no frills man who went about his job and his life with such grace and dignity that you could do nothing more than respect him and look up to him.

While watching the Tigers game on Tuesday night, I was saddened when the news broke that Harwell had passed away. Thankful that his suffering was over, I was heartbroken over the loss of a true giant. I am not ashamed to admit that I shed a few tears as clips of vintage Harwell were played on the TV. I came to know Harwell over the radio air waves like everyone else. I never met him personally and he never knew I existed, but what an impact he had on my life. It is hard to find a true hero anymore. We always seem to walk away disappointed by a comment made by our idols or shocked at their recent arrest.

You never had to worry about that with Harwell.

As I wiped away those pesky tears from my eyes, I laughed. I thought of Tom Hank’s character in the movie “A League of Their Own” in which he scolded one of his female players for opening the floodgates.

Dugan: Are you crying? Are you crying? ARE YOU CRYING? There’s no crying! THERE’S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!

There is a time and a place for everything I suppose. Even Jim Leyland, the Tigers gruff and at times, emotionless manager got choked up while talking about Harwell. That’s what happens when someone touches your life. You feel a sense of loss when they are gone. Many of us feel that way today with the passing of this great legend. The best part about Harwell however was that he was just like you and me; nothing fancy, but at the same time a master of his craft.

No crying in baseball? I disagree.

Submitted by Mark McGlothlen

Txtng whl drvng

When I am driving down the road, nothing bothers me more than when I witness another driver paying more attention to their cell phone then they are to the world around them. What ticks me off even more is when my family is in the car with me.

I can not even count how many times that my daughter’s and I have been on our way to daycare in the morning when a car comes out of nowhere, driving erratically. With the car racing toward us and weaving in and out of traffic, my first thought is “yup, another driver taking lives into their own hands because they are texting.” I keep my eyes peeled to make sure that we are not the unintentional victim of their reckless and dangerous behavior.

The majority of the time, the drivers in question are probably between the ages of 16 and 30, but it seems everyone is doing it. What is so important that you have to text while you are driving 70-75 miles per hour on the highway? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to tell you that no matter what speed you are driving your behavior is reckless.

The Michigan Legislature is on the verge of sending a bill to Governor Granholm for her signature that will allow police to pull over drivers for texting, whether they are reading or sending them on a hand held cell phone.

If passed, Michigan would become the 24th state to pass a law that banning text-messaging while driving.

I am obviously all for this ban. But it does leave me with several questions. With cell phones becoming more or less, smaller computers, does this ban also include those drivers who are checking their email or surfing the internet while driving? If not, why is that? That is just as dangerous as texting. Both require you to be looking away from the road which presents a huge safety risk.

Of course, texting and internet surfing are not the only ways that a driver can be distracted. What about talking on cell phones, eating while driving, reading the newspaper, changing clothes or putting on make-up? I would assume any of the above would and could pose a risk to other drivers on the road as well. How far should this net be cast when it comes to making our roads safer for all involved?

“Three-car accident caused by dropped cheeseburger”; wouldn’t that make a great headline?

I read a story on the internet out of Genesee County that talked about this ban on texting and whether it goes far enough. The comments from readers following the article varied from those supporting the bill to those who think it is another infringement on our freedoms.

“It’s impossible to legislate stupidity” one reader shared while another says it is just another money grab. “This law is not so much about saving lives as it is about generating revenue from traffic fines. “

My favorite post read “So, I’m actually typing this on my laptop as I steer with one knee…good thing they didn’t make a law about laptop usage while driving…” That is just scary.

As you can see, opinions vary on this subject. What do you think? Is the ban a good or bad idea? And does it really matter if revenue is generated because someone is breaking the law and endangering others? I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter. My email address is below.

McGlothlen42@yahoo.com

Submitted by Mark McGlothlen

Going out on a limb….and it snaps

I went out on a limb last week and did something I have always thought about doing but never had the guts to actually do.

No I am not talking about bungee jumping, flying in an airplane or eating liver and asparagus. Rather I always thought it would be interesting analyze a playoff series for the Kalamazoo Wings and make predictions based on my thoughts and findings..

Having covered the K-Wings for the Commercial-News for the past four seasons and being a season ticket holder for the last 12, I feel I have a good grasp of the game. Now mind you, I have never suited up for a game and I have only skated on the ice once in my life. And it was not a memorable experience.

I am not one of those fans that thinks he knows everything about the game just because my behind has been parked in a seat for the past decade either. It is so easy for some to coach from the stands, to claim to know all that ails the team and to proclaim the famous line “if I were coach…” sentiment.

The way I look at it is the players on the ice, the coach and the entire staff for that matter are the professionals. I pay to see the product that they are putting on the ice. And in Kalamazoo, we have been pretty darn lucky over the past several years to have an organization that works hard to ensure the team that takes the ice will play hard, fight until the end and leave it all out on the ice each and every night.

The team like every other sports team whether professional or not, will have its off nights. But for some fans that is unacceptable, which frankly boggles my mind. The K-Wings finished in first place of their division, winning the North Division crown. They just missed the American Conference title by a single point and were 22 games above .500.

I, for one, was very pleased with the effort of the team this season especially when you consider this is their first season in a new league. Dealing with over 25 player call-ups during the season, Nick Bootland did a masterful job of building a team that could withstand the hits. And remember, one writer picked the K-Wings to finish the season dead last in the 20-team ECHL. They finished third overall. Not bad!

The point of all of this is I do not feel I have the right to tell the coach how to do his job or tell a player when the shoot the puck when I have not been nor ever will be where they are. I am a fan, a paying fan with opinions, but that’s just about it.

But when I sat down to write the analysis for the round one match up between the K-Wings and the Reading Royals, I knew I had to sit down and review the facts before writing. As a fan, I want the K-Wings to win. As a writer, I have to be objective. And I really tried with my analysis, even though, as of right now, what I predicted is not what is happening on the ice.

I sat down with all of the stats, records and what not of both teams. On paper, the K-Wings dominated the Royals all season. They had a 5-0-1-0 record against them; they outscored them by three or more goals in three of those six games. I went player by player, game by game, and penalty by penalty to make my decision. I felt pretty comfortable with my breakdown.

I went as far to predict a 3-0 sweep by the K-Wings. To be honest, I was not sure if that would happen, but I went for it. As a fan I had the faith and as a writer I went by the numbers. I knew going in that both teams would be fired up in a way that they weren’t during the regular season. But the one thing I did not take into consideration was the fact that both teams could end up getting players back from the AHL. The Royals ended up getting three pretty good players back the day my story ran in the paper. Go figure.

Regardless, I had fun with the analysis, even if it has gone haywire as of right now. Sometimes that happens when you go out on a limb or walk out of your comfort zone. I guess it makes me human. It also makes me very cautious to make predications in print ever again! I have a little egg on my face, but if the K-Wings can win two games on the road, which they can do, I will feel a little better about the whole situation!

Submitted by Mark McGlothlen

Easter Fun

Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail…..

Easter is upon us and for the past several weeks, my daughter has been eagerly anticipating the arrival for the Easter Bunny. And why wouldn’t she? Hannah is very well aware that the Easter Bunny will be bringing bright colored eggs and other goodies and leaves them scattered around the house (or yard, depending on the weather) for her to hunt and find.

A few weeks ago we took Hannah to the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Celery Flats in Portage. Of course, it was one of the coldest days ever, or at least it felt like it anyway. Unlike some parents, we stood behind the roped off section and waited patiently for the event to begin. Unfortunately there were parents that had their children start scooping up the goodies before the hunt even started while others decided to let their five and six year olds sneak into the three-year olds hunting area. I am way past the point of being shocked at what some people will do anymore.

Once the hunt began, Hannah and I walked hand in hand to gather some Easter treasure. Hannah was different than most of the children there. Instead of going out to pick up as many eggs as she could fit in her basket, she selected her eggs based on color. A few blue, a couple pink, a yellow, green and orange. She was pretty satisfied by having at least one of every color. In addition to the eggs, there were several different types of candy on the ground for the children to snatch up. Hannah found a couple of those suckers that look like a gigantic diamond rings and tossed them in.

Her basket was not even half full when she declared that she was ready to “go back to mom and Lex”. Being that this was an event for kids, I was not about to force her to grab as much as she could and I must admit, I was pretty happy to see that she was not overly greedy either. I let her take her time; decide what she wanted and tell me when she was ready to stop hunting.

I did have a weak moment during the hunt however. There were hundreds of pieces of red licorice lying out on the grass just waiting to be picked up. My daughter did not seem interested. I mentioned all of the licorice on the ground and she picked up two and kept on looking for the next prize. After I mentioned the licorice again and was ignored, I gave up trying. I reminded myself that this was Hannah’s event and not mine, especially since licorice is not one of her favorites like it is mine. I should have been satisfied with the two she already picked up. I wish I had my daughter’s self-control. But boy that licorice sure looked good!

Out of the mouths of children (specifically, mine!): On our way to daycare the other morning, Hannah said something that I did not totally understand. Alexis, our nine-month old was “talking” and Hannah’s music was playing in the car, so my listening ability was maxed out. Here is how the conversation with my three-year old went.

Hannah: I found my tongue. (At least that is what I thought I heard)

Me: “Oh, good, I am glad you found it.”

Hannah: “No, I bite my tongue”.

Me: “Oh I am sorry to hear that, I thought you said you FOUND your tongue.”

Hannah: “What you said dad?” (I love when she says that!)

Me: “I said I love you Hannah” (not wanting to repeat the whole thing again)

Hannah: “That’s not a choice dad.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Submitted by Mark McGlothlen

Elvis, Pepsi and memories lost

I read with interest a story on the CNN website entitled “Kids who lose parents still grieve as adults.” Being that I lost my mother, Judy (Wellington) McGlothlen, when I was just four years old, the article really hit home for me.

Losing a loved one is not something that we look forward to, but it is something we all have to deal with. Whether the death is a shock or one that is expected, we all have to process what happened and deal with the fact that we will not be seeing our loved one again. It is not an easy process, but as they say, time heals.

Imagine, though, if you are too young to understand what death is or even comprehend the fact that you will never see someone again, especially a parent, who at that stage in your life is one of the most important people you know!

I do not remember too much about my mom. I know that she loved Elvis and liked to drink Pepsi. I have a suitcase full of magazines featuring the King of Rock and Roll that she had saved. I also have her yearbooks from high school as well as copies of the Three Rivers Commercial that contain articles on my Grandpa Wellington’s time spent on the City Commission and other events.

Being that I do not have too many memories of my mom, I rely on stories from those that knew my mom to get a sense of the type of person she was. But even the stories cannot replace the fact that I have no solid memories of my own regarding my mom, the person who gave birth to me. I have no idea what she sounded like when she talked or laughed, nor do I remember what the dinner she would have made me tasted like. So how can you miss someone that you never really knew in the first place? If it were only that easy!

I have had 32 years to deal with the fact that my mother passed away, but like the study I read says, it doesn’t make it any easier, partly because I was so young when she died.

One in seven Americans lose a parent or sibling before the age of 20. Seventy-three percent of those believe that their lives would have been “much better” had their loved ones not died when they were young. Out of the just over 1,000 adults under the age of 25 that were surveyed, 110 lost a parent before they were 20, 52 lost a sibling and 13 lost both.

Most of the people who responded to the survey said that they would give up an entire year of their life to spend just one more day with their departed parent. Can you imagine if that were even possible; an entire day with my mom that I would be able to remember for the rest of my life. Incredible!

To be honest, I am not even sure what we would do or talk about. How can you possibly catch someone up on the 32 years they missed with you and you them? In just 24 hours even!

Although the memories of my mom are few, I think of her often and not just on Mother’s Day. I wonder what she would think of the person I have become and how much fun she would have with my daughters. So many big events have happened in my life and whether it was graduation, a school play, my wedding or the birth of my children, I wonder what it would have been like if she were there for each one.

On the flip side, 59 percent of the people in the survey said that as a result of losing a loved one so young that it made them stronger. I feel that to be true in my case as well.

But then you wonder about the “what ifs.” As we all know, a single event can change the course of our lives forever. What if my mom had not passed away? Would I have still met my wife? Would I have the two adorable and fun loving daughters that I have now? Would I even be sitting here writing a weekly column for the paper?

If you have family members that lost a parent or a loved one when they were young, talk to them. Tell them stories, share photos. It can make a world of difference in their lives. Just last week my dad and I had just such a talk about my mom and it meant the world to me.

One thing is for sure however. Every time I crack open a Pepsi or hear an Elvis song, I can’t help but think of my mom, as those were two of the things that I know she enjoyed!

Submitted by Mark McGlothlen

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