In running this teams, I’ve managed to experience a number of injuries. The worse of them were ones to my head. Three minor concussions and numerous hits to the head. A chronic injury to my dominant foot and my hamstring. Yet, I’ve been driven to keep continuing to play, manage and lead a team. Even at the risk of my own health, I’ve still been driven to continue doing this. But why?

Every so often, I think “Why am I doing this in the first place? What’s the point?” I could be risking further injuries. I know that any one severe hit could change me forever. I could be doing something completely different. Having to deal with the complications of managing a squad can be difficult too. Ensuring enough playing time goes around, finding a chemistry among 16 different players, and creating an strategy and tactic that fits everyone’s style of play. It seems like this overwhelming burden, doesn’t it?

Then I’ve looked back on the number of people that have come and gone on this team in the past three years. I’ve looked at all the relationships that have formed over these past years. I’ve seen people who never knew each other become best friends. I’ve seen photos of teammates going on hiking trips and out to the beach. I’ve seen strangers before joining this team to becoming bridesmaids for the bride-to-be at their weddings.

The team does have a focus on winning, teamwork, and playing a beautiful game. Every single person that’s been on this team have had that same desire and goal (minus a specific crazy Eastern European keeper). However, the team was more than just that. It’s been about creating those relationships. I’ve seen a lot of them blossom through this team. And while a lot of them might not be on the team now, I know that those bonds are still there. It’s been a joy to see all of the friendships created these past few years. That’s been what I’ve hoped and loved to see as I managed and lead these players that have come and go.

So in the end, it’s worth it. To me, anyway. Sometimes, that struggle is there. Things might not be going so well, but to create that opportunity and place for those relationships to be created and built outweighs the losses or sacrifices made in its place.

It’s not the score lines that are remembered, but rather the memories and friendships that were created.

What about this blog? Will it change? I’ll still have random posts about things like sports, thoughts, and so forth, but will have stuff about grad school, what I’m working on, and such.

And the other thing is that I hope to update my site more frequently than just once every three weeks or so. That’s a new year’s resolution for me.

In 2009…

I learned what it felt like to not have control over my future, more than once.

I learned what it felt like to be in an accident that resulted in a car being a total loss. I also learned what it was like to be in that car that was totaled.

I learned how to give in to giving someone a second chance.

I learned how to write computer programs once again.

I learned how people and media all over the world can be so mesmerized over someone else’s death, despite not actually knowing them personally.

I watched arguably one of the best Super Bowl games that I’ve ever seen. I still remember what happened that night and had to take one of the trash talking words from an unlikely individual, only to see them go from see emotions of joy to emotions of shock.

I learned that even one of your most favorite players in sport can go from a loved figure to a villan over one play… May have been a big play, but regardless…

I learned that this year was not my year in fantasy sports…. Hopefully it will change in 2010.

I learned that maybe one of the best players in soccer overlooked is a diminutive little midfielder that’s playing for Barcelona.

I learned what it felt like to be in school again after taking a hiatus.

I also learned what it felt like again to have to study and work on assignments to the late hours of the night, only to get my paper back with a poor score. To learn what it was like to be humbled. That or what I thought was right was wrong and left completely confused.

I learned that almost ten years later… I still don’t like the Lakers… Or the Red Sox… Or the Yankees… Or the Patriots… Or either of the Giants.

I learned that love requires a lot of patience… A lot.

I learned again what it means to say that you’re a Christian… and what it means to actually live as a Christian.

I learned that Google Wave is by far one of the greatest innovations of 2009 that may pave the way for things to come.

I learned that as infallible as we might feel, whether physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually, we’re still fallible.

I learned that our future younger generation looks hopeful and optimistic.

I learned that as despicable as people can be, it can never overshadow the amazing things that people will do for one another, regardless of the situation.

I re-learned what it meant to live out your faith.

I learned that in the end, faith is probably the strongest thing we can have. Even after we screw up the first time, second time, third time, or fifty millionth time, there is still a God out there that will still stand beside us, willing to get us out of our rut or mess. For that’s the God that He is. Even if we can’t see Him in front of us, He’s there. For faith isn’t trusting what we can see in front of us, but rather trusting what we can’t see.

What will 2010 bring us? More hope for the better. Just after seeing everything that’s happened this year, good and bad, there is hope that thing will get better. But in order to do that, we have to live a life not focusing on ourselves but others. If we do that, who knows all the good that can come this year.

Happy new year and may this year bless everyone.

So he played on the Opie and Anthony Show on XM/Sirius (as you can tell if you clicked on the inset). It’s a different version of Radiohead’s hit song Creep. I think it’s just his interpretation and voice for the song that really stood out. It wasn’t too bad at all. His voice might have seemed hoarse, but I thought it worked great for him.

… The World Cup finals draw was last Friday. Man, that was exciting. Seeing how Brazil got paired up with the Ivory Coast and Portugal was ridiculous. That by far is the group of death. (I think Brazil and the Ivory Coast will come out of the group in that order). The U.S. got a solid draw with both England, Algeria, and Slovenia. However, for the U.S. to advance, they’re gonna need to solidify their defense and get some consistency. Else, it’s gonna be another disappointing attempt. And France… While they’re my favorite team, got their second lifeline being placed in the same group as Mexico, Uruguay, and South Africa. If they don’t get out of the group, they should fire their manager.

… Heck, the French National Team should fire their manager right now. He’s an awful leader, completely conceited and has no idea how to lead a team (2006 was only a success because they had Zidane, who was the leader of the team, not Domenech).

… The first quarter of grad school is almost done. Grades aren’t looking exactly good for my core class, but I’m content and enjoying the content and challenge that the course is teaching us. I can see some of the applications that head-driven phrase structure grammar (better known as HPSG) has. We’ll see what this material will lead to next quarter.

… If you haven’t heard this from me already, I love Google Wave. What’s an amazing piece of innovation. When it is officially released next year, I’m sure it will be the invention of the year… Even though it was previewed to the public this year. Real-time communication/synchronization is one-of-a-kind and probably will be the basis of future development into software of similar types. One example: I was helping out a student with their college admission applications by editing some of their essays. So while I was editing, the student could see all the edits in real-time. At the same time, she could comment about what edits I was making at the same time and my friend was editing it along with me… All at a total distance of about 1300 miles or so.

… I’ve found a new interest in The Roots. If you take the songs for the sake of an artistic value (and explicit lyrics as part of that), the sounds are pretty good. I’ve been listening to their Phrenology album and love some of those songs on there. The beats are really catchy and vocals are great. The songs I’ve been really enjoying 100% Dundee, Thought @ Work, and The Seed 2.0 (The latter two are from Phrenology. The first from Things Fall Apart).

… I probably should write a post about my thoughts from this past year. After all the life-changing events that happened this past year, it would be a disappointment not to reflect upon them.

… Getting Tyreke Evans as my second to last pick in my fantasy basketball draft has been my best sleeper pick in the past few years. Not my best overall player ever in fantasy sports. That has to go to Marques Colston in his rookie season, when he was available at both WR and TE.

… Evans isn’t the best pickup in my league though. That goes to Brandon Jennings of the waiver wire.

… Talking in front of people, regardless of them being a crowd of adults or a group of high-schoolers… I still get intimidated. I think it’s the feeling that I need to present something that’s amazing or thought-provoking. I should really stop having that mentality. If I could have the same fearlessness with public speaking as I did in say, my soccer games, I’d be amazing. But… I’m not.

… I really should learn to use my left foot for soccer. Took a shot on Saturday with it and it was pathetic. My right foot is still solid for shooting, but I still haven’t had a decent opportunity to score with it. The closest opportunity I’ve had was a few weeks ago. Had a powerful shot, but it got blocked. I was pretty disappointed that the guy blocked it.

… Did I say how much I love Google Wave? It’s still pretty amazing.

… I’m looking for a new theme. Prefer something more minimalist…

… So I saw one of the most crazy plays in Madden ‘10. My friend was playing his fantasy team of the Indianapolis Colts. Vick was behind center and he does a play-action. Pocket breaks down and he starts running around. Eventually runs through the line, avoids about three potential tackles, runs up to the line of scrimmage, throws it to Joey Galloway who had two men on him, who walks it into the end zone. Touchdown. You can’t find a play like that in real-life. Only in Madden.

… This cold weather is so painful. 19F tonight. Thankfully, I don’t have to play soccer in this temperature. Although, I have to walk around in it, without a jacket.

That’s about it for now. Until next time…

I wish I could teach the cat I’m currently taking care of right now.

Makes me wonder if we could pull this off in Seattle…

If you can draw a map of the United States to that kind of accuracy, you’ve got every right to be U.S. senator, right?