"Because that's what big leaguers do" - One More Reason Why Joey Votto is Awesome
This article was linked in the comments section of the Fangraphs article bringbackthemayor posted (H/T Fangraphs commenter Ryan). It deserves its own post, and talks about Joey Votto's days with the Hamilton, Ontario based Thunderbirds. The whole article is interesting, but the best part is easily the first few paragraphs.
about 1 year ago
pack_fan
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I don't see how any fan of any team could not like Votto.
Even the whiniest, bitchiest Cardinals fan would have to be impressed by the work ethic of someone like him.
"I bet that sex Bengals fan is really pissed now." -DT3428
Love it.
Thanks for sharing.
What does a mama bear on the pill have in common with the World Series? No cubs.
by DocRam on Apr 14, 2011 10:47 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Hmmm...
I thought the last quote was a bit odd.
The whole story supports a completely different premise.
Still, how did the Reds get this guy?
"Изтегляне на нов президент .. и този ангажимент и визията, който е прекарал седем континента, включително четирима служители."
I read in one article last year
that the Yankees had some interest, but I think you have to credit our scout who found him.
The Yankees
didn’t have a first round draft pick the year Joey became eligible. They couldn’t have gotten him even if they did have interest.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Does anyone remember someone sharing the story in the comments here...
About one of Votto’s classmates “hanging out” with Votto over a Saturday and going to the batting cages? I don’t remember all the details, so I don’t want to botch the story, but falls in the same vein of this story.
yes
It’s kind of a hint of the darker side of that kind of focus.
I’ve been reading books about what it takes to be great…in sports and other things. (“Talent Is Overrated,” “The Genius In All of Us,” “Outliers,” etc.) Increasingly, researchers are finding it’s persistence and practice over a long period of time more than talent that matters. Obviously, a 5’ tall girl isn’t going to be a linebacker in the NFL, but if you can play the sport, you can play it well enough to be an all-star.
But after seeing what it took, one of the authors decided that he wouldn’t want that for his kids. The dedication involved borders on obsession, and he’d rather have his kids be happy, well-rounded human beings.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Yeah, it is absolutely bizarre...
Obviously, it requires a certain amount of hard work for even the most talented athlete to succeed in the big leagues, but I feel as though Joey owes a good portion of his success to that nearly insane determination. I have never met Joey and certainly don’t know any more about him than a few anecdotes and what I see on the field, but I think these stories might inform his nervous breakdown issues. As much as I want Joey to be an MVP for at least the next 3 years (and more if he’s willing to give us a somewhat affordable extensions), I also hope that his approach to the game doesn’t cost him too much in the long run.
I think you are on to something there
Don’t get me wrong, I admire the hell out of Joey Votto and I’m damn glad he’s a Red.
However, when your life is completely focused on one thing to the point of obsession, you are setting yourself up for all sorts of problems. If something goes wrong with the thing you are focused on, it destroys you emotionally. When Joey’s father passed, he was able to deal with it by continuing to throw himself into baseball. Then he got the ear infection and couldn’t bury himself in baseball, and that’s when the panic attacks and depression set in.
I hope he’s succeeding at finding balance in his life, because I think he’s a great guy and hope he sticks around baseball without burning out.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm not going to pretend to understand what motivates a player to work that hard
but I disagree that balance is important for everybody. I think some people need the obsession more than the balance. However, he should hone his taxidermy or papier-mâché skills just so that he has something he can obsess about if he ever gets hurt.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds and The MSP Reds Annual today!
Yup. I think, more than anything else, it's a personality thing
You can see it in students from a very early age. We can tell the kids who can likely make it as professional musicians from 5th or 6th grade.
I think natural talent or ability has more to do with it than people like Malcolm Gladwell want to admit, but the whole “talent is the desire to practice” thing is true too.
Some people just aren’t happy unless they are singularly obsessed with something. Those people tend to be the most successful in their fields, especially in really competitive, performance related fields.
"Penus, stale beer, and day old hot dogs. Love it"--justin007000
That's the only bust McGwire's ever going to get made for him!
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Ooh! Make one of Russell
A bust of a bust
When you come to the fork in the road, take it.
by poojols on Apr 15, 2011 9:40 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Balance comes in degrees
And I’m speaking from some experience-I still have a major obsession with exercise and fitness, but it’s not destructive anymore, and that’s something I had to learn after nearly dying of anorexia.
I WANT him to maintain some level of obsessiveness with baseball, simply because that makes him the player that he is. I just don’t want that singular focus to destroy him.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Not to be insensitive, but those are 2 different things
You didn’t hurt yourself trying to compete for a prize, per se. Some people get obsessed with things just because, while some get obsessed because they want to achieve and be the best.
Not that it’s necessarily any more healthy, but I think it’s pretty necessary to have that singular focus in certain fields if you want to “make it”
"Penus, stale beer, and day old hot dogs. Love it"--justin007000
To me it WAS a prize
Maybe it is a bad analogy, but being as thin as possible was a huge, huge goal I was trying to reach, and trying to get there took all of my attention.
I totally agree that to succeed the way Joey Votto has at this level you need to be obsessed to a point and have a solid focus. If the negative things that go along with that are worth it to him, then who am I to judge?
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I disagree with the distinction.
Aren’t you basically saying that it’s ok to be obsessed with something as long as it’s important?
No.
Not that it’s necessarily any more healthy
I’m just saying that some level of life imbalance is necessary to achieve great things in many fields. I’m not saying it’s ok or preferable, just that it’s the way it is.
Me being obsessed with Star Wars would not be in the same category.
But to Hawkeye, that makes sense about you striving for a prize too.
"Penus, stale beer, and day old hot dogs. Love it"--justin007000
Yeah, that's kind of what I was trying to say
It takes obsession to reach some goals, and it works! But each person has to decide if the sacrifices you make to get to that level are worth achieving the goal.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions
And I'm saying that this all depends on what any individual means by "achieving great things."
I feel like you’re saying that someone can’t have life balance to be great at baseball, but if it’s not as big a deal, then it’s important to have life balance and not be as obsessed. Why shouldn’t Star Wars be that important to someone?
It's not any more or less OK
I’m not making any judgement calls on it. I’m just saying it’s necessary for athletes, performers, etc. It’s not necessary for others.
"Penus, stale beer, and day old hot dogs. Love it"--justin007000
I don't know if I'm not expressing myself well, but I feel like we're completely talking past each other.
In any case, I’m just going to drop it.
Yeah, I think we're actually all in sort-of agreement
It’s just a hard topic to express yourself properly.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
'tHan does not suck
Trust me, I’ve tried. Biggest waste of a case of Land Shark and chocolate cake ever.
"I'm telling you, my other poo story is much better." -- btcoop71
taxidermy is a good idea...
After all, it worked for Norman Bates!
What does a mama bear on the pill have in common with the World Series? No cubs.
by DocRam on Apr 15, 2011 10:27 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Hello, Mother
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
FWIW, I believe Josh Hamilton cited the boredom associated with not being able to play baseball as a factor in his eventual addiction issues
"I'm telling you, my other poo story is much better." -- btcoop71
Boredom and millions of dollars as a teenager
"Penus, stale beer, and day old hot dogs. Love it"--justin007000
True, he had the means
But I seem to remember him talking about being bored after shoulder(?) surgery and ending up hanging out with the wrong crowd.
"I'm telling you, my other poo story is much better." -- btcoop71
Yeah, I totally agree the boredom was a huge factor
But having no obstacles to getting what he wanted, and a lack of maturity to temper himself, didn’t help either.
"Penus, stale beer, and day old hot dogs. Love it"--justin007000
I blame his lack of a savior Jesus Christ
(casts line, cracks a beer)
"I'm telling you, my other poo story is much better." -- btcoop71
I'M FURIOUS WITH YOU FOR SAYING THAT!!!!
"Penus, stale beer, and day old hot dogs. Love it"--justin007000
If you think that's bad you're gonna lose it when I tell you I think the Reds are better with Jonny Gomes in LF than anyone else
"I'm telling you, my other poo story is much better." -- btcoop71
HEAD. ABOUT. TO. EXPLODE.
In all seriousness, let’s talk again in June.
"Penus, stale beer, and day old hot dogs. Love it"--justin007000
It goes the other way as well
Cocaine causes changes in the brain that may be permanent, and leave people unable to enjoy the ordinary pleasures of life.
Although he has been cocaine-free for nearly two years, he feels life is lackluster and little excites him. And that experience is consistent with recent evidence that the effects of drugs like cocaine can endure long after use has ended.
…With years of abuse, he could have lost enough dopamine transporters that his own reward circuit would become dulled to everyday pleasures. After all, to most brains a fine dinner with friends or a beautiful sunset is no match for the euphoria of cocaine.
There’s also been some interesting research that suggest people who are easily bored are more likely to become addicts. While people who find ordinary life stimulating enough will never be addicts.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
diacritical mark snob
real men do it with ascii.
"The USA despite its flaws and corruption and overall messiness is still a great and powerful instrument of freedom and hope for the entire world." - Madville
I suck at reading, so I thought you were talking about someone named Mark Snob.
And that he is diacritical. I didn’t know what that meant, but I assumed it was a fancy pants word for “overly critical”, or maybe some Boston accent thing like, “dire-critical” Anyway, that Mark guy sounds like a jerk.
by andromache on Apr 16, 2011 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Everybody's a jerk.
You. Me. This jerk.
"The USA despite its flaws and corruption and overall messiness is still a great and powerful instrument of freedom and hope for the entire world." - Madville
I think Joey probably has little more balance in his life these days
Perhaps because of his anxiety issues. He’s got a dog now. And he’s got a live-in girlfriend.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
David Duvall
He was a pretty good golfer. Then he rededicated himself to the game and worked as hard as he could at it. He got to the point where he was winning majors and was ranked #1 in the world. Once he got there, he decided it wasn’t worth it.
When you come to the fork in the road, take it.
by poojols on Apr 15, 2011 9:30 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
And Tiger Woods was obsessed from day one
and it worked out pretty well for him. Well, besides the tramp fetish.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds and The MSP Reds Annual today!
I'm not sure it worked out that well for him
He succeeded at golf…for awhile. But he lost his family, and now he’s not the golfer he was,either.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
There was going to come a time when he was not the golfer he was
That was a given. And it’s pretty obvious that his family didn’t mean THAT much to him, given how he acted away from them.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds and The MSP Reds Annual today!
yeah, well
To me, that evidence that’s not working out that well for him. Golf isn’t going to last forever, and money doesn’t buy happiness. In the end, it’s your “social capital” that matters.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
His desire was to be the best golfer that ever lived
I’d say he did alright.
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds and The MSP Reds Annual today!
It's kind of what I was awkwardly trying to express above
You can reach the top with an obsessive drive, but there are always consequences and trade-offs. Tiger Woods completely threw his family and personal life in the trash in his efforts to be the best, and he did succed in being the best.
Was throwing away his family worth it? That’s something only he can answer.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
But I didn't succeed in spelling 'succed' correctly. Ugh.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
But I think that's part of the point
People so singularly obsessed with something tend to neglect the other aspects of their lives.
Not that every focused athlete is an adulterer, but the concept stands.
"Penus, stale beer, and day old hot dogs. Love it"--justin007000
People so singularly obsessed with something tend to neglect the other aspects of their lives.
by definition.
What’s really being debated is whether or not it was worth it. For you or I, it probably wouldn’t be worth it, but with the way Tiger was wired, I have a feeling that he wouldn’t change a whole lot. (Completely guessing, obviously, I won’t pretend to understand people that are like Tiger).
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds and The MSP Reds Annual today!
unless tiger was driven by what the public thought of him
i think everything has worked out incredibly well for him.
I'd bet his approval rating is still positive
Hell, people still tune into PGA events in much higher numbers when he’s in contention. Even if people say his personal life disgusts them, I bet many of those people would say that they are still interested in him as a golfer (for people that are interested in golf, obviously).
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds and The MSP Reds Annual today!
Right, and I think for people pre-disposed to be obsessive about things
it will completely be worth it. I’m not that way, so it wouldn’t ever be worth it for me. (It also never would’ve happened, which is one reason why I’m in a 7th grade classroom right now and not on stage at Carnegie Hall)
"Penus, stale beer, and day old hot dogs. Love it"--justin007000
Ichiro could hit 40 home runs if he wanted to
by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 15, 2011 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions
It is also why a restraining order from Billy Hamilton will be in your future too
:P
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds and The MSP Reds Annual today!
I'm passing through Dayton Monday evening.
Hide your kids, hide your awesome 20 year old short stops.
"Penus, stale beer, and day old hot dogs. Love it"--justin007000
Since Kobe Bryant is okay in his mid thirties and it seems that Votto has a similar personality about baseball as Kobe does about basketball, I think Votto will come out okay.
Have you heard about Kobe’s 6-6-6 workout? It stands for 6 hours a day, 6 days a week, spanning for about 6 months over the offseason.
None of us can comprehend being that in love with a sport, but some people are. Those are the people that end up getting big money to play.
"I bet that sex Bengals fan is really pissed now." -DT3428
if Joey ends up like Kobe
I will not be a fan of his.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Canadians are too polite to rape people
He should be fine. ;-)
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 18, 2011 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions
I remember seeing a thing about Larry Bird a while back
which completely supported this theory. Growing up Bird was a tall, lanky kid with little athleticism. He didn’t have the competition to make him better so he played by himself in the gym for hours a day, 7 days a week. There’s nothing raw about Larry Bird except his love for the game.
Conversely, we’re witnessing the exact opposite with Jemarcus Russell—a guy who has all of the tools you need in a stud QB but absolutely no desire to work hard. I heard his Life Coach quit on him yesterday, which is far more pathetic than simply needing a life coach.
"i would’ve just been like. Votto rapes all, cubs suck and cards are WLBs." -- Big Stein
his life coach was john lucas
someone who has rehabilitated many athletes & people who were thought to be lost causes.
his latest success story was none other than Billy Clyde Gillispie!
if russell can’t get things turned around under lucas, it’s just not going to happen for him.
such a sad story...
I’m not saying Russell would have been a hall-of-famer, but he should have been more than “the biggest draft bust of all time”.
"i would’ve just been like. Votto rapes all, cubs suck and cards are WLBs." -- Big Stein
He was guaranteed $40 million dollars without ever having played a game
And that’s why the NFL rookie system is such a joke. For some kids, money like that motivates you to go out an earn it. For others, they see it as being set for life without ever having to do a damn thing. JaMarcus Russell fell into the latter.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions
I can't blame him at all
In fact, I very much envy him.
by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 15, 2011 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions
I know. It's astounding to me that someone who made $40 million is broke.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
It was stunning during the NBA lockout to see how many guys were living paycheck to paycheck
I wonder how many NFL guys have/will run into that this year.
"I'm telling you, my other poo story is much better." -- btcoop71
the players asscociation is giving each player 60,000 dollars for the lockout
that won’t cover their car payments!
I actually just read an article that many NFL players are taking out high interest loans
Astounding, really.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
In a way. But in a way it's not at all surprising
A lot of these guys don’t ever get any guidance on how to be a responsible adult. That includes a lot of areas, but a big part of it is handling finances. It’s no surprise to me that they have no idea how to deal with a lack of cashflow.
I remember hearing things about how the most common things for athletes to invest in are luxury items with very low returns and high risk.
I also remember the story about when the reporter went to Ron Artest’s mansion shortly after he’d been signed by the Bulls. All of his friends were there with all of their dogs. They just let their dogs dump all over the carpet, and Artest just had the carpet in the mansion replaced a couple times a week.
He’s an extreme case, I’m sure, but still. That’s crazy.
"Penus, stale beer, and day old hot dogs. Love it"--justin007000
It's astounding to someone like ME that someone could waste that much money
But you’re right, professional athletes and finanaces are really a recipe for disaster. You get 22-year-old kids, most who do not come from weathy backgrounds and have no idea how to invest or manage money suddenly handed millions.
What happens? They build mansions for Mom, invest in your longtime buddy’s get rich quick scheme, and buy 5 sports cars that they’ve dreamed about and it never occurs to them that the money will run out.
It’s sad that these are the college studies who AREN’T studying business and finance.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
err-make that college STUDENTS
#goodlord I can’t type today.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
maybe you should've studied English in college :-)
/justin’d
"Penus, stale beer, and day old hot dogs. Love it"--justin007000
Me fail English? That's unpossible!
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I was WAITING for you to comment on that.
I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me!
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Jordan and Isiah are great examples too
I’m in the middle of the Bill Simmons’ basketball book right now. It borders on overt fanboyism in spots but I do appreciate the effort. There’s pretty good descriptions of the top players that go well beyond the numbers.
Part of the reason why I like Simmons is his incorrigible homerism.
He stays true to it and makes it part of his brand.
"i would’ve just been like. Votto rapes all, cubs suck and cards are WLBs." -- Big Stein
I agree that Bird perfected his game but ...
… he also has a natural balance and floor vision that can’t be taught.
I believe that hard work is important to improve your game but I think the top 2 or 3 percent of athletes have to have natural tools. Bird has that.
Part of it, I think, is that successful athletes realize that they are better than their peers and will need to be much better when they reach the top level.
"Изтегляне на нов президент .. и този ангажимент и визията, който е прекарал седем континента, включително четирима служители."
I agree on the balance/natural tools, disagree on the floor vision
IMO floor vision comes from years of playing and developing better spatial awareness.
"I'm telling you, my other poo story is much better." -- btcoop71
Maybe, but peripheral vision isn't something you can teach
I have no idea what natural tools Bird brought to the game but he was amazing at passing and moving without the ball. At some point, he was so much better than his peers that he had to depend on something to help him get better.
There was only so much to be taught in French Lick.
twss
"Изтегляне на нов президент .. и този ангажимент и визията, който е прекарал седем континента, включително четирима служители."
and Michael Jordan
He was cut from his high school basketball team, which suggests that innate talent probably wasn’t the secret to his success.
And Jerry Rice. Fifteen teams passed on him because he was considered “too slow.” But he practiced so hard that his teammates ended up puking trying to keep up.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
The story on Jordan has always fascinated me.
The fact remains that not very many high school coaches are qualified to teach kids how to play the game. They are qualified to coach a team AFTER the kids are good enough to play.
There are dozens of kids who come out for sports with talent who get cut because the coach doesn’t know how to improve their game … or in some cases, the time to devote to it.
It comes back on the kids to learn it on their own. Not many are willing to do that or understand exactly how to achieve it. How does a kid learn to hit a fastball? Just go to the batting cage? Nobody is there to help him. He either gets it or he doesn’t.
"Изтегляне на нов президент .. и този ангажимент и визията, който е прекарал седем континента, включително четирима служители."
i disagree on jordan
he was cut from his high school team because of attitude issues, which shows that innate talent probably was the key to his success
ah yes
the michael jordan promotional video that caused me to beg my parents for an SI subscription so i could get the vhs.
and it worked!
no, mom!
the swimsuit issue has NOTHING to do with it. I’m only going to read it for the articles!
"The USA despite its flaws and corruption and overall messiness is still a great and powerful instrument of freedom and hope for the entire world." - Madville
"Obviously a 5' tall girl isn't going to be a linebacker in the NFL."
There go my dreams….
/eeyorevoice
They really do need to open up this game to accommodate the "challenged" parts of society
"Изтегляне на нов президент .. и този ангажимент и визията, който е прекарал седем континента, включително четирима служители."
Well, if the lockout lasts, maybe the NFL would recruit girls to salvage the season
I can totally put on tight pants and pads and go after some pansy quarterback. Put me in, coach!
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I am buying a ticket and a big No. 1 finger!
Cue up the Iowa fight song!
"Изтегляне на нов президент .. и този ангажимент и визията, който е прекарал седем континента, включително четирима служители."
The word is fight, fight, fight for Iowa! Let every loyal Iowan sing!
The word is fight, fight, fight for Iowa! Until the walls and rafters ring-
Go Hawks!
We’re gonna cheer, cheer, cheer for Iowa! We’re gonna cheer until we hear the final gun
The word is fight, fight, fight for Iowa!
Until the game is won!
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
The word is corn, corn, corn for Iowa! Let every loyal Iowan plant!
The word is corn, corn, corn for Iowa! Until the walls and rafters slant
Go Corn!
We’re gonna seed, seed, seed for Iowa! We’re gonna plow until we hear the final gun
The word is corn, corn, corn for Iowa!
Until the harvest season’s done!
"I'm telling you, my other poo story is much better." -- btcoop71
by jch24 on Apr 15, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
How the hell should I know? Ask the Iowans!
"I'm telling you, my other poo story is much better." -- btcoop71
You clearly know nothing about corn, sir.
There are no walls or rafters in a corn bin-it’s a metal tube.
You plow BEFORE you seed.
And yes, the seeding comes well before harvest.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions
There is something that needs to turn this green.
"Изтегляне на нов президент .. и този ангажимент и визията, който е прекарал седем континента, включително четирима служители."
Done
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, pretty much
The closest town with a grocery store was 45 minutes away. I saw cable TV for the first time in 1996.
Hick is a good word.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
It rhymes with Mick!
I kid of course, I’m a hick myself. We got city water when I was about 12 or so and you still can’t get cable TV at my dad’s house. We had one of the old Bo Diaz satellite dishes when I was a teenager.
"I'm telling you, my other poo story is much better." -- btcoop71
Same
My mother still cannot get cable. She just got hi-speed internet, and the only way she can do that is with one of those 3G plug-ins that runs through her phone. There are data limits, too, so she can’t really do much. How the other half lives, yeah?
by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 15, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Ah, I think I confused plowing with tilling.
Which also should maybe be done in the spring, but, it probably depends. I should probably know better, seeing as my uncle runs a grain elevator.
Tilling is basically playing a game of just the tip, just to see how it feels.
Plowing is…. well I’m sure you can use your imagination.
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly. ~ Winston Churchill
by BigBabyBruce on Apr 15, 2011 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
It's about the concept of T-2000
Monsanto could tell you more about this.
I think Rule 34 applies in all other cases.
"Изтегляне на нов президент .. и този ангажимент и визията, който е прекарал седем континента, включително четирима служители."
if jch doesn't know that
how did he end up with all those kids?
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
That final gun when they run all the crows off the telephone line.
"Изтегляне на нов президент .. и този ангажимент и визията, който е прекарал седем континента, включително четирима служители."
Put a Notre Dame jacket on it and it's an automatic box-office bonanza.
“Let’s go out and win win win one for the Gipper!”
"Изтегляне на нов президент .. и този ангажимент и визията, който е прекарал седем континента, включително четирима служители."
It's basically Replacements + Glee, now that I think of it.
If this involves showtunes, I am definitely in.
How do you feel about autotuned showtunes?
"I'm telling you, my other poo story is much better." -- btcoop71
Awesome! We need some songs for a football mash-up!
I’m totally in.
Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson
by Hawkeyegirl96 on Apr 15, 2011 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions
I know we were able to accomplish that in my business
We decided to open it up to allow folks who couldn’t write very well to contribute the same way the better ones could. That’s what makes journalism America’s secon most-popular sport.
"Изтегляне на нов президент .. и този ангажимент и визията, който е прекарал седем континента, включително четирима служители."
very interesting thanks for posting
I think in any field, in order to be at the top of the game, you have to devote inordinate amounts of time to it. That being said, I think some people, who work very hard at it, manage to have a semblance of a normal life, or, more specificlaly, manage to honr their personal commitments (to spouses and family for example).I don’t know any All-Stars personally, but I think, on the surface, it appears that some seem to be a little more balanced than others. Scott Rolen, for instance, seems to have a much more stable family life than soneone like Tiger Woods. Obviously Tiger is an international super celebrity, which Rolen is not, but to playat the level that Rolen does takes more than a minor commitment.
This reminds me of a story I heard about Will Smith. He was in China wth his youngest son filming “Karate Kid”. Meanwhile, his oldest son was back in the U.S. playing highschool football (I think it was football). Smith woudl actually fly back to the States to watch that son’s games each weekend and then fly back to China. It’s obvious that being there for your family as a celebrity or major athlete would take a huge commitment of effort—just as preparing for the sport, or performance would.
Been told that whenever someone asks 'Where is Joey?' in the clubhouse
the Answer is always ‘In the cage’
by jacob brumfield on Apr 15, 2011 2:27 AM EDT reply actions
Speaking of top firstbasemen in the game...
Adrian Gonzalez signs extension with the BoSox for 7 years @ $22 mill a year. What do you think that means for Votto? Think we could get him for 7 years @ $25 mill a year? Would that be more risk than the Reds organization can bear, especially with Yonder knocking on the door?
I think it is incredibly risky (and probably really stupid) for any organization to have 1/3 of its entire payroll wrapped up in one player
But if there’s anyone I’d consider it for, it’d be Votto.
"Penus, stale beer, and day old hot dogs. Love it"--justin007000
Wonder if St. Loser is considering this.
"Изтегляне на нов президент .. и този ангажимент и визията, който е прекарал седем континента, включително четирима служители."
he won't be once he really hits free agency
he’s not opposed to long term deals, he’s opposed to giving up his bargaining power
of course not
you can never believe anything an athlete or coach says when it comes to contracts. everything they say is a calculated attempt to get them the most possible amount of money
His statements were all after the deal was signed
There was no longer any attempt to get the most money.
I certainly don’t begrudge Votto for only signing a three-year deal. I just think he went out of his way to make other justifications when the real reason was obvious. He could’ve just said something like “at this point, I’m not comfortable with a long-term commitment” and left it at that.
all statements about contracts are designed to get more money
it’s not long until he will be negotiating for another contract. it would be pretty stupid to say anything that would alienate cincinnati fans.
"at this point"
in 3 years, it will be a wholly different point.
He said that he wasn’t ready to commit to a town at age 27, but who knows? In 3 years he could have a wife and kid. Time will tell.
Let's not kid ourselves. It's really, really, bad.
No way I sign a 30 year old Votto to a seven year deal. NONE.
"I'm telling you, my other poo story is much better." -- btcoop71
What if he lets you see him in his panties?
Follow on Twitter: @jluckhaupt. Buy The Wire-to-Wire Reds and The MSP Reds Annual today!
Then I sign him for a seven inch deal with an option for 8
"I'm telling you, my other poo story is much better." -- btcoop71
I think a (TWSS) reply could fit here ...
… either that or a picture …………
"Изтегляне на нов президент .. и този ангажимент и визията, който е прекарал седем континента, включително четирима служители."
Isn't everything we've seen proof that he's only getting better?
Let’s sign him to a 30-year deal right now… by that time, there will be a huge repository on the Kentucky banks of the Ohio River where Joey has ripped home runs to…
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