I was watching a baseball game the other day and the announcers were debating if whether or not Albert Pujols is the best baseball player ever to play the game. Better than Mays, Aaron, DiMaggio, Musial, and Ruth. Better than A-Rod, Bonds, Jeter, and Pete LeCock. Sure, that's a very strong argument. He is without a doubt, one of the best.
It got me to thinking...what it would take to be the absolute best at what you do.
First, you have to have an amazing amount of natural ability. And second, you have to be driven well beyond the likes of your average joe. You have to eat, sleep and breathe whatever it is you are trying to be the best at.
But also, you have to have proven statistical results, or else it's way too subjective.
Albert Pujols, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, they all are considered arguably the best at what they did or what they currently do. But it's easy to gauge just how good they are with the relentless statistical nature of these games. It's easy to compare Albert to Ruth...statistically.
The only way that I (or anyone) can come close to comprehending how it would feel and what it would take to become the absolute best at something, is to first figure out what it is that you are best at. Or in other words, you're strongest trait, activity, or whatever. Now, that's a pretty broad task to begin with. I, for example, immediately think of fly fishing. But others may think of accounting, lighting a fire without petroleum, pull ups, planting rose gardens, designing cell phones, or yodeling. Let's get back to fly fishing.
Fly fishing is a sport, or at least "part" sport. I consider it an art, a science, a pastime, a hobby, and a subculture as well. But it is the type of sport that is not ruled by stats. So, how is one to know who is the best fly fisherman in the world? Well, there are fly fishing contests and tournaments, but not many. And the majority of the more well known fly fishermen do not compete in these. Would you gauge the best on how much money one has made from the sport? How much knowledge of the history, entomology and technique of the sport? The places traveled and water covered? How many fish you catch? Is it the guy who first broke ground in fly fishing or the guy who carried it to the next level? I'm really not sure.
I consider myself a pretty good fly fisherman. As non-competitive as I consider myself also, I definitely am competitive on the river (not vocally, mentally). There are times when I am not catching many fish and some guy 20 feet away is slaying them, but I may not agree the technique he is using...so which angler is better? If I were to "dumb down" my technique, so to speak, and start catching fish like this guy, am I instantly better? Or am I better by sticking to perhaps a more traditional method?
I think that being the best at something is an impossibility. It's too debatable. It will always be a matter of opinion. It doesn't matter who has the best stats, there will always be arguable variables. Someone today doesn't have much of a leg to stand on when comparing Albert to Ruth, or Albert to Mays. Their positions were different, their eras were different, their competition was different, the fitness science and technology is different, and so forth and so on. Figuring out who the best is at anything is impossible, simply because no one knows who else might be out there that is better. Lance Armstrong is great, but there are a thousand Lance Armstrong's out there that are better cyclists.
"How do you know, butthole?" you ask. I don't know, I suspect. But not all great cyclists enter the Tour de France. Lance did, though, and he won it a bunch of times. Therefore he is considered the best based on his competitive accomplishments. But I guarantee that there are better cyclists, they just choose not to enter races.
So, what is better? Someone who chooses one "activity" and attempts to become better at it than anyone else? Or someone who chooses a handful of "activities" and strives to be pretty good at all of them?
Yvonne Chouinard, founder of the outdoor apparel company, Patagonia, and avid mountaineer, climber, fly fisherman, surfer, and kayaker (at some point in his life), stated in his book, "Let My People Go Surfing" that he strives for 80% perfection when he takes on a new sport. Don't know if those were his exact words, but they're close enough. He says that any more than 80% dedication is too much, and one must focus solely on that one sport if one chooses to push beyond 80%. I'm assuming that he considers 100% expert...the best. So 80%'s gotta be pretty damn good.
But without knowing what 100% is...ie, the best...how do I get to 80%? How do I know when to pull back or to push forward?
I guess I kind of understand. I think of people who have embraced an activity to the fullest...they've made a living out of this activity, they've been a trailblazer in the industry, they eat, sleep, and breathe this activity. And then there are people like Mr. Chouinard who are really good at a lot of things, but not considered the best (although he may be the best at building and running a sustainable company).
I can equally admire both. I don't necessarily own any characteristics of either type, though. I'm good at a few things, like fly fishing and being wicked, but not great at anything. And I'm not sure I've got it in me to strive to the best at something. At this point in my life, that would just be trying to prove something. I am what I am. If someone were to ever consider me the best, it would be by accident on my part. If I become considered the best fly fisherman by others, it will not be because I'm hellbent on being that person, it will be because I genuinely love what I'm doing and as result, have become pretty damn good at it. Unconscious success.
Hell, to people that don't know any better, I may be considered the best fly fisherman to them. I may already be there. I may be just like Albert. Pujols, Jordan, Gretzky, Armstrong, and Todd. I can live with that.
.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
80's Video of the Week
Alright kids, it's that time again. Time for your weekly dosage of spandex, leather, squealing guitars, and aerosol cans of Aquanet.
I've picked a good one for you this week. It's Winger with "Seventeen".
Kip Winger is a god walking among mortals. His glorious mane rivals Jon Bon Jovi's, and his five o' clock shadow makes George Micheal and Don Johnson both look like hobos. His teeth are as white as the first snow of the season. He is the only rock star that can captivate you with his handsome smile while rocking his bass at the same time. And to top it off, he sings about getting on 17 year old girls. That's top notch.
If I were to put money on it, I'd say that Winger is a friendly rock band. They're always smiling while rocking, which leads me to believe that they get their fair share of seventeen year old strange. What is Kip, 42? And not many rockers can get away with the name "Kip". Even Alice Cooper has a manlier name than Kip Winger. That doesn't stop him from rocking though.
Please watch this video, "Seventeen", by Winger. Allow it to rock your face off...and then rock it back on again.
Rock on, my friends. And rock on, Kip.
.
I've picked a good one for you this week. It's Winger with "Seventeen".
Kip Winger is a god walking among mortals. His glorious mane rivals Jon Bon Jovi's, and his five o' clock shadow makes George Micheal and Don Johnson both look like hobos. His teeth are as white as the first snow of the season. He is the only rock star that can captivate you with his handsome smile while rocking his bass at the same time. And to top it off, he sings about getting on 17 year old girls. That's top notch.
If I were to put money on it, I'd say that Winger is a friendly rock band. They're always smiling while rocking, which leads me to believe that they get their fair share of seventeen year old strange. What is Kip, 42? And not many rockers can get away with the name "Kip". Even Alice Cooper has a manlier name than Kip Winger. That doesn't stop him from rocking though.
Please watch this video, "Seventeen", by Winger. Allow it to rock your face off...and then rock it back on again.
Rock on, my friends. And rock on, Kip.
.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Month of Balance.
I went back to St. Louis last weekend to see my friends and family. Most of them asked how my "month of health" was going. I found that my most frequent answer was, "not bad".
And it's not bad. Different than I expected...but not bad.
During this experiment, I've learned a lot about myself and am still learning. I've grown to appreciate and incorporate a healthy balance. Have I been vigorously training for nothing? No, not at all. Why, you ask? I think it's a combination of things.
I believe that you either have to have a passion for health, or must be unhappy with your current state of being in order to focus 100% on getting in tremendous shape. Although I appreciate tremendous health, I do not have a deep passion for achieving it. I am just curious. Also, I am quite content with my state of being.
Sure, washboard abs would be nice to have. But for what price? Giving up so many other things that make me much happier than abs and concentrating the majority of my spare time on stomach exercises? No thanks. But I can balance eating tasty food that's good for you and doing crunches and sit-ups several times a week along with my usual routine of enjoying a cold beer and a cheeseburger on occasion. That keeps Matt looking and feeling pretty good and staying happy.
I've realized that I have no desire to give up so-called things that are unhealthy. Steak, beer, cocktails, cheeseburgers, lasagna, burritos...I love 'em, and will never give them up. But I've also realized that you have to balance those things out with a healthy lifestyle and moderation. At least I do. And for the record, I've had one cheeseburger, no steak, no burritos, no lasagna, and have cut my beer intake in half.
Each person is different. If someone enjoys throwing on the spandex and having a protein shake before riding 100 miles of mountain road, that's cool. In fact, that's awesome. A part of me is jealous. But the majority of me has absolutely no desire to do that. I am more than content jogging on my treadmill and doing my basement exercises. Then hitting the river and fly fishing for the rest of the day. We both have healthy days, enjoyable days, and more times than not, we both reward ourselves at the end of the day with a frosty cold beer. Everyone wins.
I have also realized that achieving good health is much more difficult than maintaining good health. But you have to have determination and discipline for both. That's why I plan on continuing less eating, healthier eating, and being active everyday even after September is over with. Going from lethargic to very active virtually overnight is no picnic. So now that I have become fairly active, it will be easier to plane out than to go from one extreme to the other.
So, I suppose in a sense I have failed. I have not accomplished everything that I have set out to do in a month's time. I have slipped more than once in the past three weeks. But I have also made some very positive steps. I have lost weight. I have woken up my sleepy lats and abs. I have learned to be conscious of my calorie intake. I have been eating much better. But the most important thing I've learned during these past three weeks and something I have thought very deeply about...Balance.
It not just applies to my experiment, it applies to everything. Everything.
For me, it keeps my body and my mind healthy. A balance of healthy food, greasy food, cocktails, water, juice, milk, country music, rock and roll, jazz, reggae, city, country, mountain, river, staying home, road tripping, patio, couch, cooking, restaurant, campfire, tv, running, lounging, work, days off, certain friends, certain other friends...everything.
Call it well rounded or whatever. I think that balance is the most healthy conclusion that one can come to. My month of health has transformed into a month of balance.
Although my month was not a complete accomplishment, it was still positive and still a success. And it's not over yet.
.
And it's not bad. Different than I expected...but not bad.
During this experiment, I've learned a lot about myself and am still learning. I've grown to appreciate and incorporate a healthy balance. Have I been vigorously training for nothing? No, not at all. Why, you ask? I think it's a combination of things.
I believe that you either have to have a passion for health, or must be unhappy with your current state of being in order to focus 100% on getting in tremendous shape. Although I appreciate tremendous health, I do not have a deep passion for achieving it. I am just curious. Also, I am quite content with my state of being.
Sure, washboard abs would be nice to have. But for what price? Giving up so many other things that make me much happier than abs and concentrating the majority of my spare time on stomach exercises? No thanks. But I can balance eating tasty food that's good for you and doing crunches and sit-ups several times a week along with my usual routine of enjoying a cold beer and a cheeseburger on occasion. That keeps Matt looking and feeling pretty good and staying happy.
I've realized that I have no desire to give up so-called things that are unhealthy. Steak, beer, cocktails, cheeseburgers, lasagna, burritos...I love 'em, and will never give them up. But I've also realized that you have to balance those things out with a healthy lifestyle and moderation. At least I do. And for the record, I've had one cheeseburger, no steak, no burritos, no lasagna, and have cut my beer intake in half.
Each person is different. If someone enjoys throwing on the spandex and having a protein shake before riding 100 miles of mountain road, that's cool. In fact, that's awesome. A part of me is jealous. But the majority of me has absolutely no desire to do that. I am more than content jogging on my treadmill and doing my basement exercises. Then hitting the river and fly fishing for the rest of the day. We both have healthy days, enjoyable days, and more times than not, we both reward ourselves at the end of the day with a frosty cold beer. Everyone wins.
I have also realized that achieving good health is much more difficult than maintaining good health. But you have to have determination and discipline for both. That's why I plan on continuing less eating, healthier eating, and being active everyday even after September is over with. Going from lethargic to very active virtually overnight is no picnic. So now that I have become fairly active, it will be easier to plane out than to go from one extreme to the other.
So, I suppose in a sense I have failed. I have not accomplished everything that I have set out to do in a month's time. I have slipped more than once in the past three weeks. But I have also made some very positive steps. I have lost weight. I have woken up my sleepy lats and abs. I have learned to be conscious of my calorie intake. I have been eating much better. But the most important thing I've learned during these past three weeks and something I have thought very deeply about...Balance.
It not just applies to my experiment, it applies to everything. Everything.
For me, it keeps my body and my mind healthy. A balance of healthy food, greasy food, cocktails, water, juice, milk, country music, rock and roll, jazz, reggae, city, country, mountain, river, staying home, road tripping, patio, couch, cooking, restaurant, campfire, tv, running, lounging, work, days off, certain friends, certain other friends...everything.
Call it well rounded or whatever. I think that balance is the most healthy conclusion that one can come to. My month of health has transformed into a month of balance.
Although my month was not a complete accomplishment, it was still positive and still a success. And it's not over yet.
.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Monday Night
So, I'm sitting here with my face in this computer while April watches the previously recorded MTV Video Music Awards. I don't know who anyone is on this show anymore. Well, yea I know who Beyonce' and Kanye' and the JLo and all those kids are. But I don't know who anyone else is.
I suppose that is a good thing.
Also, Monday Night Football is on. I just checked, it's tied in the 3rd.
Please don't be concerned with the status of my manhood, though. If you haven't seen Beyonce's performance on the VMA's yet, let me tell you...it is much better than a bunch of dudes in tights running around groping each other.
.
I suppose that is a good thing.
Also, Monday Night Football is on. I just checked, it's tied in the 3rd.
Please don't be concerned with the status of my manhood, though. If you haven't seen Beyonce's performance on the VMA's yet, let me tell you...it is much better than a bunch of dudes in tights running around groping each other.
.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Don.
This was the funniest commercial that I had ever remembered seeing. Was.
Yea, it's funny as shit. And I'm pretty sure that's Burt Reynolds doing the voice over at the end--so that in itself gets points from me.
But I just saw a new commercial that beats any commercial ever produced. There's a chance you've seen it by now because apparently other folks dig it and it's circulating around cyberville.
It's a commercial for Norton Antivirus and it's entitled, "Dokken vs. Chicken".
Like Burt, Dokken also vacates a warm, cozy spot deep in my soul. You see, I'm kind of old, so I know who Dokken is. Sure, I like a couple of their ridiculously cliched 80's metal songs (see my installments of "80's Metal Video of the Week") because they're big, dumb rock...and big, dumb rock makes me grin.
But around three or four years ago when my sister Katie was my roommate, and I had just started dating my now-wife April, Katie and I would go about our cooking or housecleaning while leaving the TV on. We usually just left the music channels on, and on these music channels you can choose from a variety of genre's: Classic Country, New Country, Adult Alternative, Classic Rock, etc, etc. While the music is playing, the screen shows you pictures of the band and little tidbits about them as well.
One evening while we were "watching" said channel, a Dokken song came on. I don't remember the exact tune...probably "Alone Again" or "Into the Fire". I glanced over at the TV in hopes of catching a tidbit about Dokken. And boy, did I!
On January 27, 1988, Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley gave the 80's metal band, Dokken, the key to the city and pronounced it "Dokken Day".
Katie and I thought that to be spectacular. So we immediately arranged a party for January 27, complete with kegs, 80's metal music, and....that's about it. Unfortunately, for some reason there was no dressing up in 80's metal garb. That was for Kev's 80's Roller Derby Birthday.
At any rate, it was a fantastic celebration. April traveled from Kansas City to be with us, and my good buddy Vinnie made the trip from St. Louis. There were kayaks, stolen church signs that read "Hamfest Parking" and plenty of 80's metal to be had.
Now I live in Colorado. Most of friends live hundreds of miles away. But, with the help of my Dokken Day cohorts, I am confident that Dokken Day will live on in 2010. There will be costumes, kegs of beer, perhaps a stolen sign or two, and most definitely 80's metal featuring Don Dokken and his three brethren.
In my head, the party has already began.
Please enjoy this commercial. It's the funniest commercial this earth has ever seen. Sorry Nannerpuss.
I will be buying anything and everything Norton Antivirus ever makes.
Please have a Happy Dokken Day, my friends.
.
Yea, it's funny as shit. And I'm pretty sure that's Burt Reynolds doing the voice over at the end--so that in itself gets points from me.
But I just saw a new commercial that beats any commercial ever produced. There's a chance you've seen it by now because apparently other folks dig it and it's circulating around cyberville.
It's a commercial for Norton Antivirus and it's entitled, "Dokken vs. Chicken".
Like Burt, Dokken also vacates a warm, cozy spot deep in my soul. You see, I'm kind of old, so I know who Dokken is. Sure, I like a couple of their ridiculously cliched 80's metal songs (see my installments of "80's Metal Video of the Week") because they're big, dumb rock...and big, dumb rock makes me grin.
But around three or four years ago when my sister Katie was my roommate, and I had just started dating my now-wife April, Katie and I would go about our cooking or housecleaning while leaving the TV on. We usually just left the music channels on, and on these music channels you can choose from a variety of genre's: Classic Country, New Country, Adult Alternative, Classic Rock, etc, etc. While the music is playing, the screen shows you pictures of the band and little tidbits about them as well.
One evening while we were "watching" said channel, a Dokken song came on. I don't remember the exact tune...probably "Alone Again" or "Into the Fire". I glanced over at the TV in hopes of catching a tidbit about Dokken. And boy, did I!
On January 27, 1988, Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley gave the 80's metal band, Dokken, the key to the city and pronounced it "Dokken Day".
Katie and I thought that to be spectacular. So we immediately arranged a party for January 27, complete with kegs, 80's metal music, and....that's about it. Unfortunately, for some reason there was no dressing up in 80's metal garb. That was for Kev's 80's Roller Derby Birthday.
At any rate, it was a fantastic celebration. April traveled from Kansas City to be with us, and my good buddy Vinnie made the trip from St. Louis. There were kayaks, stolen church signs that read "Hamfest Parking" and plenty of 80's metal to be had.
Now I live in Colorado. Most of friends live hundreds of miles away. But, with the help of my Dokken Day cohorts, I am confident that Dokken Day will live on in 2010. There will be costumes, kegs of beer, perhaps a stolen sign or two, and most definitely 80's metal featuring Don Dokken and his three brethren.
In my head, the party has already began.
Please enjoy this commercial. It's the funniest commercial this earth has ever seen. Sorry Nannerpuss.
I will be buying anything and everything Norton Antivirus ever makes.
Please have a Happy Dokken Day, my friends.
.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
update.
Well, so far so good I suppose. I'm officially on day number two, unofficially on day number three. I feel I got a jump on my September health-kick by hiking into the Williams Fork Valley on Monday...in full fly fishing get-up. It was a pretty rugged few-mile hike, but seemed twice as hard because I had my waders on. I also caught myself watching what I ate on Monday instead of gorging the day before my routine started. So there was no maxing out my credit card at Sonic...which is a good thing.
The transition has been pretty easy so far. I got pretty tired at work yesterday, but caught my third wind later in the afternoon. Speaking of yesterday, I decided to kick September off by going on mountain bike ride. So I did. I don't know how many miles it was...I'm sure I could find out, but I really don't care. I'm not much of a mile counter. Every hike or ride is always a "few" miles, whether it's 2 miles or 20 miles. Anyway, the ride was a blast. If anything, this little experiment will motivate me to get out more. Can't believe I haven't ridden more than I have since I've been out here.
Obviously, I'm trying to eat well. That means I get to play around with some different recipes. I'm thinking fish tomorrow night. I need to go catch some walleye out of the reservoir and grill they sides up. Mmmmmm, grilled fish sides.
Alright then, better go start getting ready for work. I'll update you after I've been at it for a few days. I may be having cheeseburger withdrawals by then.
.
The transition has been pretty easy so far. I got pretty tired at work yesterday, but caught my third wind later in the afternoon. Speaking of yesterday, I decided to kick September off by going on mountain bike ride. So I did. I don't know how many miles it was...I'm sure I could find out, but I really don't care. I'm not much of a mile counter. Every hike or ride is always a "few" miles, whether it's 2 miles or 20 miles. Anyway, the ride was a blast. If anything, this little experiment will motivate me to get out more. Can't believe I haven't ridden more than I have since I've been out here.
Obviously, I'm trying to eat well. That means I get to play around with some different recipes. I'm thinking fish tomorrow night. I need to go catch some walleye out of the reservoir and grill they sides up. Mmmmmm, grilled fish sides.
Alright then, better go start getting ready for work. I'll update you after I've been at it for a few days. I may be having cheeseburger withdrawals by then.
.
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