Sunday, August 22, 2010

College Athletics Season

A Soccer ball.Image via Wikipedia
Well, it's a week before the end before the end of August, and for me that means the start of 9 4 solid months of being busy working various Memphis Tiger athletic events.


It all gets underway this evening at Mike Rose Soccer Complex when the Lady Tiger soccer squad takes on Samford.


In the business of media relations, once the season starts, it seems that you only get busier until a slight break when football is over around Christmas. Other than that, it's pretty hectic from August to the end of April. 


As busy as I know I'm going to be this fall between athletic events, school, friends and fraternity stuff, I can't wait to get things started. By nature, I prefer to be extremely busy. When I have nothing to do, I go stir crazy pretty quickly.


So, here's to the 2010-11 Tiger Atheltics season. Let's make it a good one.
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Friday, August 20, 2010

Healthy Living

Taco Bell Drive Thru SignImage by compujeramey via Flickr
The past month and a half has seen a lot of changes from me, both in lifestyle and mindset.

One of the main things I have dedicated the latter half of my summer to is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Now, I'm not the most unhealthy person by any means.

However, I had let myself fall into a bit of a trap, eating out all the time and not getting ample portions of fresh, healthy food.

Believe it or not, eating poorly for an extended period of time really will make you feel unhealthy, negative, and unhappy.

That's where I found myself, deciding that I needed to start getting used to being healthy and making my habits more healthy.

We all know that habits are hard to break, so I knew I needed to make my habits, especially ones regarding my personal health, good ones. With the school year approaching, I knew I needed to get into some sort of health food and fitness routine before classes got started.

I'm happy to say it's been about a month and a half now, and I am still fast-food free (with the exception of a grilled chicken salad or two from Wendy's). I've dedicated myself not only to grocery shopping, but to shopping for groceries properly

I've forced myself to learn to like fruits like blueberries and grapes, so that my body will crave those kinds of foods when I'm hungry rather than a McDouble from McDonald's or a chicken burrito from Taco Bell.

It hasn't been easy, but it certainly wasn't incredibly difficult, either. Once you start making healthy choices, it becomes easier and easier. Now, I buy whole grain pasta and bread instead of the normal stuff.

Simple choices like that make a world of difference.

Now, along with any diet should come some sort of physical activity. Working out has never been something I have been able to maintain and be consistent with.Yet, I've been able to keep up with it this time.

As simple as it sounds, eating healthy makes working out easier. It's a system that builds off itself and gets easier to maintain.

A month ago I hated running and wouldn't touch a blueberry or grape. Now, I'm active and working out a few times a week and eating better than I have since college started.

I guess the point of this post is just to point out that changes can be made in your life. Don't tell yourself you can't do it and never try. It can be done. It just takes a little dedication.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Conference Expansion

Main logo used by the NCAA in Division I, II, ...Image via Wikipedia
Earlier this summer, a seismic shift in the conference makeup of NCAA Sports was thought to be right around the corner.


Unfortunately, Texas decided to stay put and the Big 10 and Big 12 switched numbers. Oh, and Colorado and Utah went to the Pac-10


Utah going to the Pac-10 didn't seem like a monumental shift at the time, other than increasing the odds against the Mountain West Conference getting an automatic qualifier in a BCS bowl game--something which was a previous stated goal of the MWC and the reason many schools such as TCU originally joined the conference. 


News began to break yesterday that BYU was considering going independent in football and rejoining the Western Athletic Conference in all other sports.


With that, the MWC officially had no more chances at earning at automatic qualifier into a BCS game. Therefore, the only loyalty to the MWC for many of its members was broken.


With that. it seems likely that the MWC will battle with Conference USA for a lot of schools. There are so many different options that it will be interesting to see how it plays out.


It was also announced earlier today that the MWC had extended invitations to California State University, Fresno and the University of Nevada, Reno.


That, it seems, is the start of some sort of shift in the landscape of conferences. It will be interesting to see how C-USA plays from here.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Memphis Blues

Memphis, Tennessee skyline from the air. A pho...Image via Wikipedia
Memphis isn't exactly the most positive place in the world. Ask anyone that has lived in Memphis, and they will agree Memphians tend to focus on the negative things going on in the city rather than the positive. 


For whatever reason, the city of Memphis and the people living in it have developed a self-pity type of attitude. 


I wish that people that live in Memphis and go to school here would take some time to step back and look at all the wonderful things this city has to offer. 


Sure, I'm guilty of it sometimes, too. I've had my times when I've been completely fed up with Memphis. And, though I may leave someday, this place has been pretty good to me.


So, when people say that Memphis is boring, or that there's nothing to do here, or that it's nothing but crime and unkempt properties, it really irks me. 


We have the University of Memphis, a rapidly growing and developing metropolitan research university with a burgeoning athletic program. Just in the two years I've been at school in Memphis, the new University Center has opened, the Living Learning Complex Dorms. 


Tiger Lane opens this fall, which will be a serious improvement in aesthetics and gameday atmosphere around the Liberty Bowl.


And, of course there's Tiger basketball, which is one thing that always unites this city like nothing else. 


Aside from the University, there are tons of other great things. There's Cooper Young, Jerry's Sno Cones, Harbor Town, Mud Island, The Peabody, Main Street, Central Gardens, Botanic Gardens.


The list could go on forever. And, since Mayor Wharton has taken office, a couple of ambitious redevelopment projects have taken place in the Vance neighborhood near FedExForum and in the heart of South Memphis.


The point of this post is just to say that people, myself included, should try to focus more on the positives that Memphis has. It's a good place to live, and if we work together, we can continue to make it better. 








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Sunday, August 15, 2010

PGA Championship

PGA Tour logoImage via Wikipedia
What a day it was at the PGA Championship with the players vying for the Wanamaker trophy in "Glory's Last Shot" (At least, that's what Jim Nantz likes to call it.)


Even with Tiger out of the picture, there were still great story lines in play--something the PGA Tour needs in the wake of Tiger's off the course issues. 


Everything seemed to be going well. 


Dustin Johnson coming back after shooting himself out of the U.S. Open with a final round 82 and hitting shots from all over the course. 


Bubba Watson making all the 'good ole boys' back home feel like it was their time to shine.




Rory McIlroy reminding us of the iconic Danny Noonan from Caddyshack with the mop top and picture-perfect follow through.


Australian Steve Elkington thinking it was 1995 again and trying to become the second oldest major champion in history. 


Martin Kaymer making us all figure out just who the heck he is and then becoming only the second German ever to win a PGA Championship (Bernhard Langer being the other).


Then, the tour decided to make what should have been a three-way playoff between Watson, Kaymer, and Johnson into a duet because of a somewhat questionable ruling.


Johnson hit his tee shot on number 18 wide right. When he approached his ball, the marshals and fans alike all crowded around like normal in order to get a glimpse of the man who could win the PGA Championship.


Apparently, that bit of barren sand that everyone was standing in (while Johnson was preparing for the shot, mind you) was actually intended to be a sand trap, thereby categorizing it as a hazard.


Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11


In golf, hazards have special rules, and one of those rules is that you cannot ground you club under any circumstance. Unfortunately for Johnson, he did just that.


After missing a put that he thought would have given him the victory, he headed into the tent to sign his card and prepare for a playoff or so he thought. Instead, tour officials questioned him about his approach shot on 18 and ultimately decided that it was necessary to asses the two stroke penalty.


I know the tour was in a tough spot here, considering that you can't just arbitrarily decide not asses a penalty because a tough break. Yet, I do think the marshals and event management people should have done a better job Sunday and throughout the week on keeping fans out of that bunker.


If it's supposed to be a sand trap, treat it like that. Rake it, and don't allow spectators to walk through it.


I feel horrible for Johnson, especially after his well-noted struggles at this year's U.S. Open. Hopefully, he is strong enough to shrug it off and use it as a positive experience. He certainly has the game to be something special one day. 


Now, despite all the hoopla surrounding the Johnson situation, good signs for the future of professional golf could be found all around Whistling Straights. 


The PGA Tour should have been taking a collective breath of relief in knowing that it could still generate great entertainment even without Tiger in contention on Sunday. 


It didn't matter that Tiger fell out of contention while still trying to figure out his swing amidst his widely noted off the course issues. Prior to the PGA Championship today, golf had seemingly taken a backstage in the sports world as a result of Tiger's troubles.


Ratings at the British Open were nowhere near as good as they would have been had Tiger been around on Sunday. 


The PGA Championship had a bunch of guys out there winging it. Mostly players who had something to prove, playing to win the tournament that could define their respective careers.


So, despite Tiger's struggles on and off the course, the PGA Tour is finding out that it can succeed through other means. 


Another thing to keep in mind--all these guys are getting great experience while Tiger is struggling. When he comes back and is ready to compete, these young guns won't be afraid of him and Y.E. Yang-esque comebacks won't be a shock to the system.




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Lazy Sundays

Wake up. 


Brunch.


Pool time out at my dad's place.


Afternoon Nap.


Frisbee with Lambda Chi. 


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It's easy to see why Sundays have become my favorite day of the week this summer. 


For me, most Sundays are the day when I allow myself to let go and completely forget about any of the current sources of stress in my life. 


Everyone needs to have those kind of days. It's good for your soul, good for your body. In this day and age, we all too often let ourselves get consumed in whatever is currently prominent in our lives.


Whether it's work, school, a relationship, or something else, people all too often forget to step back and take time for a self evaluation, time to enjoy being yourself and figuring out what your relationship with yourself means to you. 


That's why I've tried to make Sundays that day for me. This summer has been pretty crazy for me, and I've certainly dealt with more than what I've expected. 


Things can get kind of overwhelming sometimes in life, and that's why Lazy Sundays are the perfect way for me to recharge and relax prior to the new work week. 


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Friday, August 13, 2010

Affiliate Marketing

Google Logo bg:Картинка:Google.pngImage via Wikipedia
Since I started this site and entered through the portal in online blogging, I've realized that there are tons of people out there earning a nice little check just through affiliate marketing on their respective blogs and websites.


Of course, I was extremely skeptical at first, and still and to some degree. Yet, a lot of this stuff is actually pretty genuine. You just have to work to drive traffic to your blog in order to make money.


I started this blog a couple of weeks ago and now including this post I have 12 unique postings to go along with a little additional content on some other pages within the blog.


I've tried to update with something each day, hoping that would be enough to drive traffic to my site and thereby make some money though the Google Adsense application. 


Google AdSense For Dummies


I couldn't have been more wrong. Simply updating content and pasting html Adsense code into your blog is nowhere near enough.


I've been trying social bookmarking so that my blog will show up on sites like digg.com and stumbleupon.com and have also built a couple of hub pages that help drive traffic to your site. 


Aside from that, I've been trying to get my blog into as many social media news feeds as possible. I still haven't made a whole lot of money through the Adsense application, but my page impressions and clicks on the ads are slowly increasing.


Hopefully, at some point, all this will translate into some kind of tangible monetary gain, but I'm only cautiously optimistic at this point. 


I will continue to post occasionally on my success or lack there of from using Google Adsense and let you know if it really is as easy to make money online as people say.


For those of you wondering how to get started with Adsense, I've included a good video that should help you get things started with your blog as well as some helpful links. Good luck!




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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Loooong Day

Today was possibly the busiest day I've had since the spring semester ended back in May. That being said, it was a lot of fun. 


Below are all the interviews I filmed and uploaded today. 











Memphis Restaurants

Memphis may have shortcomings in certain areas, but food is certainly not one of them. There are an unbelievable array of magnificent restaurants scattered throughout the city, from upscale places to hole-in-the-walls. 

Whether you're looking for the world famous ribs from Charles Vergos' Rendezvous, or an unreal sno-cone from Jerry's, the Bluff City has it all. 


Below is a list of some of my personal favorite restaurants in Memphis.


This place will always remain high on my list. Located in the liberal, artistic epicenter of midtown (Cooper Young), Young Ave. has become somewhat of a cultural icon amongst midtowners.  I grew up about two blocks from this place and used to walk across the street after class in elementary school to get some of the Memphis-famous Deli french fries before heading home for the afternoon. 

Aside from the fantastic french fries, Young Ave. has a great array of sandwiches, burgers, and even pizzas to go along with a nice worldwide selection of beer. 


Huey's is a solid, always consistent source for high quality food along with a great atmosphere. Known for the Huey Burger and live music on Sunday nights, Huey's has become a household restaurant name in Memphis. 

It has a few locations around town, with the original one sitting on Madison near McLean in Midtown. 


Growing up, I loved going to the midtown location of Memphis Pizza Cafe and sitting on the back patio. Located in Overton Square, it's a great location. While the square certainly isn't what it once was, Memphis Pizza Cafe is still the spot in midtown and city-wide to get a delectable thin crust pie. 


Probably the least known member of the list thus far, Little Italy is a walk-in pizzeria in Midtown. It's located on Union right before the traffic light at Kimbrough and right next to Midtown Tobacco. 

Little Italy is family owned and operated and has fantastic italian food, including stromboli, chicken parmesan and classic italian desserts like cannoli. The food is made right in front of you, and it feels like a real italian restaurant stuck in the middle of Memphis. 


Though Jerry's is by no means a restaurant, it certainly belongs on this list. This place has, hands down, the best sno cone I've ever had. I was introduced to it while attending high school at White Station, and have loved it ever since. 

These are real sno cones, folks. Not the lame Hawaiian shaved ice ones that have no flavor. And, make your sno cone a supreme and Jerry's will add frozen yogurt to your cone. Words simply cannot describe how good Jerry's is. They also have a lot of really good, quick-serve, grill type food. Check it out, I promise it will not disappoint.
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Sunday, August 8, 2010

Ultimate Frisbee

If you're a Lambda Chi at Memphis, Sunday night means ultimate frisbee. While none of us may be as good as this guy, it's a great way to have some fun and let some steam off before starting a new week.



I had never played ultimate before I started hanging around Lambda Chi prior to the summer of  my freshman year in college, and I honestly found the game to be quite dumb the first few times I played. 


That, of course, was mostly due to the fact that I could barely throw the frisbee.


However, over the past three years, I've taken quite a liking to the game. It's fun, a great workout, and a good way to interact with brothers.


Ultimate doesn't have much of a following in this part of the country, but it's slowly growing in popularity. 


It is played with a 175 gram disc and usually follows a seven vs. seven format with each team trying to score by reaching an endzone. Players  can move only one foot while they hold the frisbee and cannot run after catching the disc.  


It was first conceived in 1968 by Joel Silver, then a student at Columbia University, as an adaptation of Frisbee football. Since then, Ultimate has slowly grown, but has been often labeled as a counterculture activity and left out of mainstream sports coverage.


Many colleges across the nation have club teams, just as they do for rugby. Ultimate, however, is not an official NCAA sport. 


For more information about ultimate visit: What is Ultimate Frisbee?


Also, we play every Sunday night around 7 pm at the track next to the Elma Roane Field House on campus at the University of Memphis.



Here are some pretty cool Ultimate highlights:





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Saturday, August 7, 2010

Voiceovers

This summer I've been learning how to shoot and edit video with the campus videographer at Memphis. During this process, I've gotten the chance to do the voiceover work on some of the University of Memphis online videos.


To access the University of Memphis official YouTube page, click here:


I've provided the videos in which I am the voice below:


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Friday, August 6, 2010

I've just finished settling into a new house that I'll be living in for the next year, marking the fourth move I've made in three years.

Luckily, each move has been an upgrade, a trend that I would certainly like to continue.

I first moved out when college began and took up residence in the always lovely Richardson Towers at the University of Memphis. While it was better than living at home under the supervision of parents, it was anything but homely.

From there, I moved into what would become my fraternity's party shack and dealt with a constant party for nine months.

Loeb Street was next in my path, as a I resided in a quaint house there for the past year.

______________________________________


It's interesting to think about how much where you live impacts the person who you become. From Towers to Watauga to Loeb, each place will forever be associated with certain memories.

See, a house is like a song, recalls little vignettes of memories from your mind that you otherwise thought were lost.

It can take you back to a time when things were different, for better or worse. You know what I'm talking about--a song that you listened to constantly in high school comes on the radio and you briefly get that feeling of nostalgia for the glory days.


Your house can do the same thing for you.

I'll never forget the ever-blaring loud music of Richardson Towers, or the undercook breakfast potatoes. The Little Shop of Towers will always be remembered as the place to get late night Top-Ramen.

Whenever I see the house on Watauga, I think of dumb, crazy and fun decisions that the freshman version of myself made there.

Loeb Street will forever remain with me as the place where I was came into my own, really started to figure who I am and want my purpose here is.

Shotwell certainly has a lot to live up to, but I can't wait to look back next August and reflect on another year of memories.

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Memphis Basketball Archived Stories

This is a list with links of all the post-game recap stories I wrote during the 2009-10 Memphis Tiger basketball season. 
































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Thursday, August 5, 2010

Saving Content

Another way in which I will utilize this blog is to archive content that I write and publish during my time as a student at the University of Memphis.

I will post embedded YouTube videos as well as links to some of my other work. Here is a video interview of Kody Alexander after he qualified for this year's U.S. Amateur


Click here for more information about Kody Alexander. 



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Election Time in Memphis

Steve Cohen, member of the United States House...Image via Wikipedia
It's election time in the Bluff City, so you know what that means--controversy.


Memphis politics could never really be described as pretty, but this year democratic primary for the 9th Congressional District has been particularly bad.


Willie Herenton, the same man who used the slogan "Shake them haters off" in his last mayoral campaign, has used a new campaign for this year's campaign: "Just One."


That, of course, refers to the absence of a black representative in Tennessee's Congressional Delegation. Leave it to Mr. Herenton to inject race into a situation where race should be a non-factor.


I'm not a huge proponent of Steve Cohen by any means. He doesn't look the part, and he isn't great in public speaking situations. But, the man flat out cares about the people of the city of Memphis. 


Willie Herenton cares about himself and himself only. The man ran for a fifth term as mayor, and then just quit a year into the job to run for Congress. Do you really want someone who quit as mayor and quit as superintendent?


Do you want someone who repeatedly subverts the issues while choosing to focus on race instead?