Ocean #2: Indian

During the Asia trip (more on that to come), we managed to hit some islands and get our swim on. While the Andaman Sea is the technical name for the body of water we swam in, it is an extension- as a border of Thailand- of the Indian Ocean. So there. Island hopping around Thailand featured exotic and beautiful views not afforded to us in America, and so it was a real treat to be able to admire the crystalline waters and take a dip. Truly relaxing. Truly a wonderful journey. Enjoy!

Celebratory splashing for hitting another ocean!

We managed to find some luxurious shopping on the beach...boi.

Ko Phi Phi: The new paradise.

Getting our toes wet, and walking wayyy out...

Ocean #1: Atlantic Ocean

Last summer featured three instances where I was able to swim in the Atlantic: trips to Miami, the Jersey Shore and the Hamptons, NY. Both featured my best friends, and both were wild times. By day we enjoyed some quality beach time (complete with sweet burns), which was a nice transition, as I am not typically a beach person (see aforementioned burns). In any event, here is some photographic evidence of my being at the beach (Note: I swear I went into the water, though only one shot will get me on my way out)...

Jersey Shore...managed to survive the trip, though it certainly wasn't easy...
One of these things does not tan...


Apparently, a LOT of people got the memo about coming to the beach. And we're allll cramped together on the narrow strip of dry sand. The Hamptons, 2010.

Fresh off a nice session of waves and waboba throwing...

Yes, I'm obliged to say "South Beach, bringin' the heat". No, I don't feel bad about it.

Book #14- Lardner on Baseball

Ring Lardner, using what used to be known as a "typewriter"...

One of the many things I love about baseball is its rich history in the American narrative. From the origins of the game all the way to present day, baseball more than any other sport has become interwoven with American history. Between countless movies, documentaries, television specials, online articles, lists, etc. it is the most accessible sport we have. Tennis and golf are individual sports. Football has taken the "most popular" title from baseball, but has also taken with it the negative frenzy and over-exposure that baseball benefited from (and was also hindered by). Hockey sadly lacks the mainstream access and coverage in America, and basketball is coming on strong, but is still seen as an individual-driven sport (which is a different debate for a different day). Baseball is blessed to have teams who are institutions of their own (Boston, New York Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, et. al.), so the talk about stars being bigger than the teams themselves is rendered false (when Jeter retires, the Yankees will still be a hugely profitable and popular team. The Cleveland Cavaliers are finding out how life without LeBron James can be, driving your franchise upwards).

Historically, the period before Babe Ruth was known as the 'dead ball' era, based on the fact that there were few true stars in the developmental days of MLB. Perhaps the most famous of the writers who covered this era was Ring Lardner. This collection of stories from Lardner- a collection of satirical chapters about Jack Keefe, a fictional, beleaguered pitcher; a series of short stories about life of ballplayers off the field; and non-fiction posts throughout the 1919 World Series (known today as the Black Sox scandal)- present ballplayers in a more human, less otherworldly light. It's a great read, as though Lardner knew of the disappointing fall from grace so many professional athletes have had in the eyes of America over the last 90 years. What results is a portrayal of professional baseball players as strangely- and sadly- human characters.

The 1910 NY Giants starting lineup. The Giants were the faceless villain of Lardner's characters. NY still has it.

Jack Keefe, for example, is a character featured in a number of short stories collectively called "You Know Me, Al", which is a compilation of letters from Keefe to a hometown friend. Keefe overestimates his skill without realizing what everyone else clearly sees: that he is, as a player, overrated. There's an idea that the most elite people at their profession don't see shortcomings. Call it blind optimism. Athletes on the decline are rarely aware enough to admit that they are declining (see Derek Jeter's 2010 contract negotiations). Whether it's a stubborn refusal or the fact that they have competed at the highest level of competition within their field, it is interesting to read this well-written piece of fiction about a player who suffers from this exact thing...which is still relevant today.

Another talent of Lardner's is combining just the right combination of in-game information (even fictitious games) and 'other'. While many people spend time thinking about how famous people in any industry live, Lardner presents life on the road (from experience) as dull and full of immaturity (big boys playing boys games),sometimes downright ugly. We collectively marvel at what life must be like as someone famous, to which Lardner glibly replies "it's interesting, but nothing great". I argue that Lardner's writing is interesting AND great.

Detracting from this book is simply the language. Lardner writes exactly how you might expect a sportswriter from the 1910s to write: gruff, full of unfamiliar lingo, and fairly basic. Not that these are all bad things, but they DO make for a slow read on occasion. Also, I couldn't read through more than one of the short stories at a time, since it would require introduction to an entire series of characters one after another. Unlike a novel where you become acquainted with a set number of people per book, Lardner's short stories- while entertaining- are diverse enough that I could only handle it one story at a time (and I'm a reader whose appetite for books can be described as voracious). All in all, Lardner on Baseball is a humorous and unpretentious look inside the lives of ballplayers. In the event that Lardner takes creative liberties to add brushstrokes of depth to his characters, it i done so with a wink and a nod to what can only be a captive audience of sports enthusiasts.
Life of ballplayers isn't always pretty...right, Randy?

Book #13- Derek Jeter: The Life You Imagine

The Life You Imagine: Life Lessons for Achieving Your Dreams

As baseball season is in full effect, I thought I'd introduce a few baseball-related books for the review. The first of three is one co-written by Derek Jeter, famed shortstop for the New York Yankees. When I first saw the title of the book, I thought, "wow, what a self-important title"; as I read, I realized that it was a little bit different than a holier-than-thou manifest about how great Jeter's life is.

The book is structured as a motivational how-to for setting goals and reaching them. It is devoid of scandalous or sensationalized stories, which does not surprise me; Jeter takes great care to keep his personal life in an air-tight bubble. The book also lacks a ton of information about his playing days to that point (released in 2000, the 2001 World Series, the 03-04 epic Red Sox showdowns, the Torre firing, and 2010 contract negotiations are nowhere to be found here, though I'm sure they turn up in his new biography, The Captain). If we don't have access to adult personal life information and we lack access to playing with the Yankees, what does that leave us with? The answer, briefly put, is that this book comes across as a motivational speech. Jeter- along with Jack Curry- outline 10 tips for "living the life you imagine". Huh?

Before I took into account that this book was published 11 years ago and that Jeter was that much younger and that much more flawless (sabermetrics were born in the 20th century, but matured in the 21st), I thought that it would be a lame sort of 'go get em' book for young people. That remains part true. Bits of advice like "The world is not always fair" doesn't sound as meaningful when dictated by a millionaire shortstop for the world's most recognizable sports franchise.
Post-season heroics are not discussed. Too bad. 2001 WS thoughts would have been interesting...

Of course, things that get glossed over as know-it-all adults can still be put to good use if we as adults take the time to look a little closer (the closing chapter, "Life is a Daily Challenge", should be plastered on walls and billboards the world over). It is here that Jeter's stories have some legs to walk around on. We the general public tend to think of our athletes and entertainers as unflappable. As any Yankee would tell you, there's a whole lot of history behind those pinstripes. So as a teenager, to put that uniform on- to do any adult thing, really- can be frazzling if you're unprepared. Luckily for Jeter, his talent carries him through. For the world in general, there's a lot to fight for, and you've got to be prepared to fight it out daily. This is a valid point for any reader of any age.

While I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone who isn't looking for advice, it was certainly interesting to put things into perspective. Everyone could use some advice, and nothing- no matter how glossy the surface- is perfect.

Furthermore, Jeter does do a tremendous job of highlighting those things which have been widely-reported as important to him: Family. There's a lot of attention paid to the success and ability of individuals, Jeter included. To his credit, he has always gone out of his way to mention his parents and sister for their influence on him throughout his entire life. Kids today can learn a LOT of valuable information from the way Jeter conducts himself and who he keeps closest to him.

Lastly, I've always been interested in how Jeter handles the race card. Born to a bi-racial couple, Derek Jeter has always taken the high road whenever race has come up in any sort of fashion. This book didn't dig deep into it, but it WAS referenced, and the general consensus is that it's unfortunate that some people feel the way they do. While that may be a vanilla response we've come to expect from modern-day athletes, what it DID do was shine light on the fact that Derek and his sister were seen as outcasts in their family since they were part-black. Did not know that.

As an aside, this book came out just after Jeter was dating Mariah Carey, so it was fun to walk down that memory lane again, as well as reminisce about the Boston Brawl, the A-Rod comments in SI, A-Rod coming to NY, Clemens on steroids, Torre's departure, the talk about his shameful Gold Gloves, the 2010 negotiations...NONE of which had happened at that point. Long decade for Mr. Jeter.

A younger Jeter and Mariah Carey. Handled that press like a pro.