Wow, That was Amazing.

Yesterday afternoon we were flipping through the channels and came across the Nebraska Cornhusker volleyball game. We are nothing if not Huskers. So, we watched. Rapt, unable to look away, fascinated. Women’s volleyball is a sport of power, grace, beauty, and athletes. I am now a big fan. Next time I am in Lincoln I am stocking up on Cornhusker Volleyball shirts.

Last time we were in Lincoln we were staying at a motel on the outskirts of town. We went down to have breakfast, and ran across a gentleman dressed in Cornhusker gear. He had been to the women’s basketball game the night before, and was telling us about the game. We were going to the men’s game that afternoon, and he said his neighbor was going, they split tickets, somehow. He told us it was harder to get tickets to volleyball games than it was football games, and that sellout streak has been going on since 1962. After watching yesterday I can understand why it is such a hot ticket, though.

These young ladies play like a well oiled machine. I don’t know much about volleyball, but I can’t imagine anybody playing it better. In four hard fought sets they were unstoppable. A stoic coach watching from his seat, his steely gaze reflecting the iron will of his players. 

It was an amazing act of precision, power and grace under pressure. In one memorable exchange, a camera positioned behind the Nebraska back line. The ball came in fast, and the player in the middle threw herself recklessly on the floor, and got her hands under the (“digging” it from low, and fast) ball bouncing it with amazing accuracy towards a player right in front of the net. This player sat herself precisely where the ball was going to be and bounced it high in the air straight down the net towards the left side. At the extreme ends, both ends, of the net players stalked, (it could have been “set” to either end) predatorily toward the net, leaping high in the air and the one on the left knocked the living hell out of the little ball.

It was an amazing display of athleticism. She not only jumped high in the air she somehow managed to wind up, twisting her whole body into a spring of potential energy and used a terrible force to drive her hand like a whip, smacking the ball with a speed, power and accuracy that was frightening. When they showed the replay from a camera at the net that could easily cover both courts you saw how terrifying the hit was. I would have run to get out of the way of that missile. It is only one point, and that ball could cause internal bleeding. But, I cheered, from my chair and drank a toast to the team. 

It was refreshing how after such an awesome display of athletic prowess the celebration was an excited huddle of the whole team. All smiles, congratulations and slaps on the back. No panning for the camera, no superman motions to the crowd, no primal screams, just an excited giggle and a warm embrace. I guess women don’t understand trash talk.

I posted, on the Nebraska Volleyball Facebook page; “I had no idea volleyball could be so exciting.” Somebody replied “Where the hell have you been?” I’m not sure, but I am here now, and I will be sticking around for a while. 

Go Big Red. Go Volleyball Team, save a seat at the party for me. I am here now.

Year End Performance Reviews, Winner Take All.

This year we, here at Life Explained, (#lifeexplained) have decided to forgo the normal Christmas (for those of you waging a war on Christmas*, Xmas) gifts, year end evaluations, promotions, bonuses, and raises.  Instead, taking a cue from the ultimate authority in fair play, the NCAA, and having a playoff with the biggest prizes to be awarded to the winners, though we are trying to avoid all of the corruption, greed and malfeasance associated with organized sports.  It won't be football, or basketball, probably, but it will be a competition, and people are warming up to the idea already.

Right now we are leaning toward professional wrestling, WWE style, looking into the price of a decent ring, with a cage that lowers, covering the area so contestants are forced to battle it out, with no chance of escape.  A cage would even the playing field for Mabel from accounting, as her oxygen tank, and walker would slow her down, and allow her opponent to flee with ease.  Go Mabel!

Of course, nobody really wants to see Bob, from R and D in wrestling shorts, the guy looks like he might be the missing link.  And nobody really wants to wrestle Bill from the legal department, he is such a whiner.  He had to get stitches for his last paper cut.  One good body slam would leave him in a coma, which might be ok, until he woke up.

On the plus side, people are starting to come up with some very creative ring names, like "Carl, the Crippler Custodian," and "Doctor Daryl the Destroyer," the RN, who stitched up Bill's papercut.  Daryl is so enamored with the idea she smashed a guy over the head with a folding chair.  He came in to see about something for his headache, she screamed, "I got your headache right here," and knocked him, butt over tea kettle into the hall, he had to be transported to the hospital.  (Hurry back boss, we all miss you.)

Mabel wins again.

Anyway, there is a lot on the line, and spirits are running high, Doctor Dawg started accepting bets on the outcome, making odds, and so far Mabel is doing well, 3 to 1 against.  And the addition of masks has helped, though when you are competing for promotion, or a raise I suppose anonymity is not an asset.  Well, tune in to the Life Explained network, bet a big fat wad of cash (don't worry, if you lose the Life Explained Tax Service will provide documents proving it was a charitable donation) and catch all of the action.  It will be intense, and you won't want to miss a second, except when you go grab a drink or a snack, you know, the important things in life.

* We here at Life Explained would like to take this opportunity to espouse our love of peace (A), and all things peaceful, we feel that war is bad, and have no desire to participate in wars of any kind.  We are pacifists by preference, and by profession.  Plus, we like Christmas, and wish it came more often.

One Last Time, Probably.

I am not a rabid sports fan, for a wide variety of reasons.  It is not dreamy idealism, not a stand against the corruption that may be rampant.  Nor is it a vengeful stand against the dangers inherent in competition, though both have merit.  It is just a view based on experience, and hey it is my blog, after all.

I can make it all the way through baseball season without ever thinking about standings, pennant races, public scratching, or spitting.  I find the average baseball game lasts too long, and most of that time has little real drama, or action.  Sometimes I like to watch a baseball game on television, just to listen to the announcers fill the time between pitches with a constant stream of statistical trivia, the colorful memories of past performances, and the hopes for potential greatness.  In many ways, to me, it has to be one of the most difficult jobs in sports broadcasting.  Being the play by play announcer for a baseball game requires more research than a law degree, and more flexible, associative reasoning than quantum physics.  It is almost like a machine, a perpetual motion construct, taking long minutes of routine and trying to make it sound noteworthy.  But, I am not even sure who won the World Series last year, and don't really care.

I used to like professional basketball, but at some point I came to the realization that they are not promoting a game, as much as a series of players.  They always need a larger than life personality, someone who can sell jerseys, shoes, cell phones, posters, and he needs to have the unique ability to polarize people.  It seems to be a lot more about the players, and less about the competition.  This is not really a criticism, they have a right to make the league as popular and profitable as it can possibly be, in fact that is their prime responsibility.  But, it does not interest me.

And the NFL has always seemed too corporate, and packaged to be a sport.  Microsoft vs Apple vs Google, and occasionally Samsung or Hewitt Packard will come through and grab that last wild card spot.  Or Coke vs Pepsi.  But, it is really hard for me to care, I find presidential debates more compelling.  The smart money is on Coke and Apple, by the way, at least my money.  Considering how well I did in every bracket I filled out this year my money, and the person carrying it, may not be all that bright.

So, I have to squeeze every last ounce of enjoyment possible (and another blog post or two) out of the Final Four, which will be a little difficult since all of the teams I really like are watching it, too.  Which, I guess, is kind of cool, I will be watching the Final Four with Tim Miles, and Rick Pitino, and Bill Self, and their teams, I better get some more chips, and drinks, and better chips, and drinks.

But, it is time to start looking forward to next season, (college football, and basketball), when once again my teams will provide fresh hope and dreams, and all will be new, and wonderful.  Of course, the new conference alignments are going to provide some intrigue.  The Big Ten is adding some new teams, and realigning the divisions, and I don't really have a handle on all of that.  So, I will have to learn to say Go Big Ten Western Division, (or whatever they call it), I hope the Cornhuskers win all of the games against all of the opponents, whoever they are.  I will elaborate on that as soon as I can figure it out.

And Louisville, which left the Big East after last season is leaving the American Athletic Conference after this season, and joining the Atlantic Coast Conference, and that will make for interesting matchups, where they will meet, once again, the Syracuse Orange, and some other teams from that left the Big East, but that bit of knowledge escapes me for the moment.  And, I need to apologize, in advance, to Christy Barongan who writes a very powerful and compelling blog http://normalintraining.blogspot.com/ (a blog I read faithfully, it is well written, insightful, and enlightening, you should check it out) and is a Virginia Cavalier fan.  So, please accept my apologies, and go Cards.

I intend to write one more post predicting the winner of Monday nights Championship game, but am so busy it will probably have to wait until Tuesday.