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Sunday, February 10, 2013
Arnold Sports Festival Martial Arts Festival March 1st thru 3rd
OVERTIME UNKIND AS BOWIE STATE FALLS 60-59 TO LINCOLN (PA)
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. - Lincoln (Pa.) junior Derrick Washington (Washington, D.C.) hit a free throw with 1.8 seconds left to lift the Lions to a 60-59 overtime win over Bowie State. The overtime loss, BSU’s second of the season to Lincoln, drops the Bulldogs season record to 9-12, 5-7 in the CIAA and 2-4 in the conference’s Northern division.
Washington paced all scorers on the night with 19 points, including going 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Will Cole (Newark, N.J.) had 12 points and eight rebounds before fouling out in the extra period as the Lions (13-9 overall, 6-6 CIAA, 4-2 CIAA North) were 21-of-58 shooting for 36 percent.
Bowie State raced out to a 16-9 advantage after a Dameatric Scott (Hagerstown, Md.) layup with 9:12 remaining, but Lincoln (Pa.) answered with a 12-4 run, capped by a Richard Glover (Baltimore, Md.) three-point play, giving the Lions a 21-20 lead with 4:09 left.
With the score knotted at 27-all, Lincoln closed out the first half with buckets by Cole and Washington to give the Lions a 31-27 lead at the break.
The Lions appeared to have the game in hand with 12:08 remaining in regulation as Washington sank a pair at the free-throw line to give Lincoln a 46-38 advantage. But the Bulldogs refused to go quietly in this intense rivalry and used a 13-2 run over next eight minutes to grab a 51-48 lead after a jumper by junior Carlos Smith.
Washington paced all scorers on the night with 19 points, including going 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Will Cole (Newark, N.J.) had 12 points and eight rebounds before fouling out in the extra period as the Lions (13-9 overall, 6-6 CIAA, 4-2 CIAA North) were 21-of-58 shooting for 36 percent.
Bowie State raced out to a 16-9 advantage after a Dameatric Scott (Hagerstown, Md.) layup with 9:12 remaining, but Lincoln (Pa.) answered with a 12-4 run, capped by a Richard Glover (Baltimore, Md.) three-point play, giving the Lions a 21-20 lead with 4:09 left.
With the score knotted at 27-all, Lincoln closed out the first half with buckets by Cole and Washington to give the Lions a 31-27 lead at the break.
The Lions appeared to have the game in hand with 12:08 remaining in regulation as Washington sank a pair at the free-throw line to give Lincoln a 46-38 advantage. But the Bulldogs refused to go quietly in this intense rivalry and used a 13-2 run over next eight minutes to grab a 51-48 lead after a jumper by junior Carlos Smith.
The Bulldogs trimmed the deficit to 46-45 at the 10:35 mark of the second half following a traditional three-point play by senior Bryan Wilson (Upper Marlboro, Md.). Bowie State missed several opportunities over the next three plus minutes to regain the lead. However, a steal by junior Ray Gatling (Oxon Hill, Md.) and fast break dunk by senior Byron Westmorland (Baltimore, Md.) shifted the advantage over to Bowie State at 49-48 with 6:53 left in regulation.
A Ray Gatling bucket with 35 seconds remaining gave Bowie State a 53-50 advantage, but Washington's 3-pointer with 25 seconds tied the contest at 53. The Bulldogs had a few chances to win the game in regulation as Westmorland's 3-pointer was off the mark and Wilson's putback attempt banged off the back iron, sending the contest into overtime.
In the extra period, Westmorland's free throw with 44 seconds left gave the Bulldogs a 58-57 lead and a free throw by Wilson extend the margin to 59-57, which set the stage for Washington's heroics.
With Lincoln trailing, 59-57, Washington drove to the line and lifted a soft jumper over two Bowie State defenders to tie the game at 59 as he was fouled on the play with 1.8 seconds left. After a timeout by the Bulldogs, Washington sank the free throw and Bowie State's final attempt by Wilson at the buzzer was short as the packed house erupted onto the court.
Senior Najee White (Jamaica Queens, N.Y.) led the way for the Bulldogs with 14 points. Wilson added 11 points, six rebounds and a career-high seven steals, while Westmorland chipped in with nine points and nine boards as Bowie State shot 33 percent (19-of-57) from the field.
The Bulldogs will see their next conference action on Wednesday (February 13th) at Virginia Union University. Tip-off versus the Panthers is set for 7:30 pm in Barco-Stevens Hall.
A Ray Gatling bucket with 35 seconds remaining gave Bowie State a 53-50 advantage, but Washington's 3-pointer with 25 seconds tied the contest at 53. The Bulldogs had a few chances to win the game in regulation as Westmorland's 3-pointer was off the mark and Wilson's putback attempt banged off the back iron, sending the contest into overtime.
In the extra period, Westmorland's free throw with 44 seconds left gave the Bulldogs a 58-57 lead and a free throw by Wilson extend the margin to 59-57, which set the stage for Washington's heroics.
With Lincoln trailing, 59-57, Washington drove to the line and lifted a soft jumper over two Bowie State defenders to tie the game at 59 as he was fouled on the play with 1.8 seconds left. After a timeout by the Bulldogs, Washington sank the free throw and Bowie State's final attempt by Wilson at the buzzer was short as the packed house erupted onto the court.
Senior Najee White (Jamaica Queens, N.Y.) led the way for the Bulldogs with 14 points. Wilson added 11 points, six rebounds and a career-high seven steals, while Westmorland chipped in with nine points and nine boards as Bowie State shot 33 percent (19-of-57) from the field.
The Bulldogs will see their next conference action on Wednesday (February 13th) at Virginia Union University. Tip-off versus the Panthers is set for 7:30 pm in Barco-Stevens Hall.
LADY BULLDOGS SECOND AND BULLDOGS FOURTH AFTER FIRST DAY OF CIAA TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIOSNHIPS
BRELYN FINLEY LEADS BOWIE STATE ON DAY ONE OF CIAA TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
HAMPTON,Va - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships were in full swing today for the first of this two day event at the Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton. Day One Results attached
Eight schools are competing for the gold and at the end of today’s meet several teams have
positioned themselves to pull away from the pack for tomorrow’s competition.
The Virginia State Trojans have taken two of the top three places in Men’s Pole Vault; Hildrew McNair for the Trojans, claimed first place in with a height of 4.14m, while Jonathan White of Virginia Union took second at 4.04m, followed by fellow Trojan Frederick Boone, who finished in third place with 3.84m.
In women’s finals High Jump, Zahnn-George Reid of the Johnson C. Smith Lady Golden Bulls jumped a first place 1.66m mark, followed by Morgan Heath of Lincoln (PA) 1.63m. Tajanel McNeil, Winston-Salem State Lady Rams, landed in third with a final mark of 1.60m.
Women’s Shot Put Finals featuring Lady Bulldogs junior Brelyn Finley; throwing a first place mark of 12.95m. Judea Archie-Walker followed in second for the Trojans, 12.46m and claiming third, Olivia Sedwick of Winston-Salem State at 11.99m.
In terms of team standings, the Bowie State Lady Bulldogs are in second place and the Bulldogs are in fourth place overall.
Events commence on Sunday, beginning with the Women’s Pentathlon 60 Meter Hurdles. The Championship Awards Ceremony will follow immediately after the final championship event- scheduled for 6:15 pm.
What to do if someone has cancer
What to Do if Someone
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Oliver was doomed to die from cancer
within 8 hours --
But then he found out what to do. . .
Oliver had reached the end of the road in his seven-year fight against cancer. His doctors didn't think this 32-year-old man would live through the night.
But when I talked to Oliver six years later, he was the picture of health! He got rid of his cancer completely. Yes, Oliver found the answer — his own cancer miracle. I sat down with him and his doctor and they told me an incredible story. . . a story that could help save you or someone you love from this dreaded disease. If you'd like to hear it, click here now. |
Cancer ALWAYS goes beyond the person diagnosed
The first thing you've got to remember is that EVERYONE is affected by a cancer diagnosis. It's not just about the person fighting the disease. Caregivers, friends, and family members of someone battling cancer also cope with emotional and physical challenges.
Of course, they are also the very people who can provide the best support to a cancer sufferer. Now, I'll admit that communicating with the people we love most can be tough, even in the best of times. Throw cancer into the picture and you have a whole new level of deep emotions and concerns to deal with.
The most important thing is to not get scared you'll say or do the wrong thing. Sometimes the best approach is just to lend a sympathetic ear. That sort of emotional support is crucial for helping a cancer sufferer stave off the anxiety and stress they feel after a diagnosis.
To be honest, keeping the relationship normal is about the best thing you can do. Here are some tips on how to do that:
Of course, they are also the very people who can provide the best support to a cancer sufferer. Now, I'll admit that communicating with the people we love most can be tough, even in the best of times. Throw cancer into the picture and you have a whole new level of deep emotions and concerns to deal with.
The most important thing is to not get scared you'll say or do the wrong thing. Sometimes the best approach is just to lend a sympathetic ear. That sort of emotional support is crucial for helping a cancer sufferer stave off the anxiety and stress they feel after a diagnosis.
To be honest, keeping the relationship normal is about the best thing you can do. Here are some tips on how to do that:
- Start by preparing yourself. In general, cancer sufferers won't want to spend hours discussing their diagnosis. It's too emotionally draining. If they do want to talk, by all means — talk. But take the time to learn as much as you can on your own about the details of someone's cancer. Reach out to their spouse or a mutual friend to make sure you have all your facts straight. If certain details aren't known, don't push for more.
- Ask first. Ask before you pay a visit, before you give advice, and before you request details about someone's cancer treatment. Make sure they feel comfortable saying "no."
- Be ready for changes in appearance. Weight changes and fatigue are common in cancer. Hair loss is one of the most noticeable effects, if the person is undergoing chemotherapy. The best route is to not to comment on physical changes at all. Just tell your friend or family member how happy you are to see them.
- Don't hesitate to make plans for the future. It gives a cancer sufferer something to look forward to.
- Welcome emotions. Don't ignore feelings of sadness, but make sure you allow for fun and humor when you visit someone facing a diagnosis.
- Don't let someone's cancer become the elephant in the room. Talk about it if they're willing, but don't let it steer your relationship. Treat them the same way you always have.
- If you're related to the person, don't turn the conversation to your own risk levels. Don't talk about the risk their children might be facing, either.
- Keep in touch. Call or write emails. Send letters or care packages. About the worst thing you can do is lose touch with someone because you don't know what to say. A simple "I'm thinking of you" is all it takes.
If you have additional ideas or you disagree with the ones above, let us know by emailing tonewsletter@cancerdefeated.com or post a comment on our Facebook page.
The two most important things you can do
Be honest here — most of us don't like to ask for help. Cancer patients are no different. So don't wait for someone to ask. Make an offer. Be specific about it, too. Instead of saying, "Can I do anything for you?" ask if you can bring a meal over, or take care of kids or pets.
You can also shop for groceries, pick up prescriptions, water plants, mow the lawn, or drive them to a support group meeting. Or to a treatment session. In short, make an offer that can't be refused.
I know a young family who says they've hardly cooked a meal since the wife's breast cancer diagnosis. Their neighbors got together and bring them meals — usually things that last for a few days and can be reheated to provide several meals. They've also received a lot of volunteer help in looking after their young children.
The second most important thing you can do is to help with the financial side of cancer. There's no way around it — cancer is expensive. But, it can be awkward to give someone money directly (awkward for them to accept it, too).
A better option is to give a gift card to the grocery store or a store like Target. Or spring for a housecleaning service, or a therapeutic treatment like massage or acupuncture. Many massage therapists and other types of therapists will be happy to provide a gift card entitling your friend or relative to treatments.
A newer approach to helping someone deal with the financial strain of cancer is to set up a fundraising page. Crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo make it easy for anyone to raise money for any purpose. Kickstarter and GoFundMe are other popular options. Just set up a page that tells the story of the person you're raising money for, set a money goal, and then share the page with other friends and family members. They can donate online using credit cards.
There's usually a small fee of 4 or 5 percent off your fundraising goal, but funds are disbursed just two weeks after the campaign is over (and you set the deadline).
You can also shop for groceries, pick up prescriptions, water plants, mow the lawn, or drive them to a support group meeting. Or to a treatment session. In short, make an offer that can't be refused.
I know a young family who says they've hardly cooked a meal since the wife's breast cancer diagnosis. Their neighbors got together and bring them meals — usually things that last for a few days and can be reheated to provide several meals. They've also received a lot of volunteer help in looking after their young children.
The second most important thing you can do is to help with the financial side of cancer. There's no way around it — cancer is expensive. But, it can be awkward to give someone money directly (awkward for them to accept it, too).
A better option is to give a gift card to the grocery store or a store like Target. Or spring for a housecleaning service, or a therapeutic treatment like massage or acupuncture. Many massage therapists and other types of therapists will be happy to provide a gift card entitling your friend or relative to treatments.
A newer approach to helping someone deal with the financial strain of cancer is to set up a fundraising page. Crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo make it easy for anyone to raise money for any purpose. Kickstarter and GoFundMe are other popular options. Just set up a page that tells the story of the person you're raising money for, set a money goal, and then share the page with other friends and family members. They can donate online using credit cards.
There's usually a small fee of 4 or 5 percent off your fundraising goal, but funds are disbursed just two weeks after the campaign is over (and you set the deadline).
Help them incorporate alternative treatments
One of the most valuable things you could possibly do for someone with cancer is to be their advocate. That means you go to all their doctor's appointments with them, help them weigh the pros and cons of different treatment options, and essentially stay by their side throughout their cancer battle. This is usually appropriate if you're very close to the person battling cancer.
If you're a little more removed from them, or if they already have an advocate, there are plenty of other supportive roles you can play.
A really important role is to serve as someone's exercise partner. Exercise gives cancer patients both physical and emotional benefits, like reducing stress, improving sleep patterns and helping with fatigue, as well as boosting mood. It can be as simple as a daily walk around the block. Just make sure they get signoff from their healthcare team.
Other good exercise options are weight lifting to help build muscle — important because patients often lose muscle (and gain fat) during cancer treatment. And then there's aerobic exercise, like running or swimming, which helps with cardiovascular fitness and burns extra calories. Flexibility exercises like stretching or yoga help a cancer patient maintain mobility.
On a different note, regular care packages go a long way in helping a cancer victim through treatment. Send things like funny DVDs — I'm a fan of classics like Laurel and Hardy or The Three Stooges. Vibrant flowers or live plants are also a nice option. Here's a vital tip, though: When you send gifts or packages, make it clear that no "thank you" is expected. You can be sure a cancer sufferer will appreciate every act of kindness they get, but that person may not be up to writing thank you cards or even making phone calls.
Another really valuable approach is to help educate them about supportive treatment and alternative therapies. But you have to tread lightly here. Very few people want unsolicited advice, even from their closest friends and relatives. If you know the patient is receptive to alternative health in general, then you might find a way to tactfully suggest some helpful supplements or eating plans.
You should never push a treatment on someone — they have to want it. But, as our weekly newsletters testify, there are hundreds of excellent complementary approaches for people battling cancer … and it takes work to research and understand them. So, offer to do the work for them.
If you're a little more removed from them, or if they already have an advocate, there are plenty of other supportive roles you can play.
A really important role is to serve as someone's exercise partner. Exercise gives cancer patients both physical and emotional benefits, like reducing stress, improving sleep patterns and helping with fatigue, as well as boosting mood. It can be as simple as a daily walk around the block. Just make sure they get signoff from their healthcare team.
Other good exercise options are weight lifting to help build muscle — important because patients often lose muscle (and gain fat) during cancer treatment. And then there's aerobic exercise, like running or swimming, which helps with cardiovascular fitness and burns extra calories. Flexibility exercises like stretching or yoga help a cancer patient maintain mobility.
On a different note, regular care packages go a long way in helping a cancer victim through treatment. Send things like funny DVDs — I'm a fan of classics like Laurel and Hardy or The Three Stooges. Vibrant flowers or live plants are also a nice option. Here's a vital tip, though: When you send gifts or packages, make it clear that no "thank you" is expected. You can be sure a cancer sufferer will appreciate every act of kindness they get, but that person may not be up to writing thank you cards or even making phone calls.
Another really valuable approach is to help educate them about supportive treatment and alternative therapies. But you have to tread lightly here. Very few people want unsolicited advice, even from their closest friends and relatives. If you know the patient is receptive to alternative health in general, then you might find a way to tactfully suggest some helpful supplements or eating plans.
You should never push a treatment on someone — they have to want it. But, as our weekly newsletters testify, there are hundreds of excellent complementary approaches for people battling cancer … and it takes work to research and understand them. So, offer to do the work for them.
Don't let the disease define the person
Cancer is a game-changer, absolutely, but under every awful diagnosis is a person. Maybe that person is your friend, or brother, or daughter, or parent. Don't forget that.
A lot of cancer survivors report they found out who their real friends were after they got cancer. That was when the people who really cared stood out from the ones who never called, never expressed their sympathy, suddenly lost touch, or just dismissed the cancer sufferer's fears.
At the same time, if you're a caregiver to someone with cancer, or very close to a cancer sufferer, you're bound to face some stress. Make absolutely sure you take good care of yourself so you can be at 100% when the person you're caring for needs you. Check out resources like thePeer Support Network, which connects caregivers with others who've faced similar experiences.
Or, try online tools like Lotsa Helping Hands, which makes it easy to coordinate offers for help between other friends and family. It also lets you post updates as someone heals from cancer, which saves them the hassle of having the same conversation multiple times with concerned friends and family members.
The bottom line to all of this to just let someone know you're there and you care.
I know of one treatment that ANYONE might agree to try, even if they reject alternative and integrative medicine. We wrote about it in the last issue. Scroll down and read it now if you missed it.
A lot of cancer survivors report they found out who their real friends were after they got cancer. That was when the people who really cared stood out from the ones who never called, never expressed their sympathy, suddenly lost touch, or just dismissed the cancer sufferer's fears.
At the same time, if you're a caregiver to someone with cancer, or very close to a cancer sufferer, you're bound to face some stress. Make absolutely sure you take good care of yourself so you can be at 100% when the person you're caring for needs you. Check out resources like thePeer Support Network, which connects caregivers with others who've faced similar experiences.
Or, try online tools like Lotsa Helping Hands, which makes it easy to coordinate offers for help between other friends and family. It also lets you post updates as someone heals from cancer, which saves them the hassle of having the same conversation multiple times with concerned friends and family members.
The bottom line to all of this to just let someone know you're there and you care.
I know of one treatment that ANYONE might agree to try, even if they reject alternative and integrative medicine. We wrote about it in the last issue. Scroll down and read it now if you missed it.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Lincoln (PA) 60 - Bowie State 59 (MEN'S Bb FINAL)
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. - Lincoln University of Pennsylvania junior Derrick Washington made a layup and free throw with 1.8 seconds in overtime to give the Lions a 60-59 CIAA Northern Division win over Bowie State. Bowie State (9-12, 5-7 CIAA, 2-4 North) was led by seniors Najee White and Bryan Wilson with 14 and 11 points respectively.
Complete story to come later
LINCOLN (PA) LADY LIONS SWEEP SEASON SERIES WITH 65-50 WIN OVER BOWIE STATE
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. - Courtney Smith (Milwaukee, Wisc.) scored a team-high 13 points as Lincoln University of Pennsylvania toppled Bowie State University 65-50. The Bowie State loss marks the first ever season series sweep by the Lady Lions.
The Lady Lions’ Tahlar McIntosh (Pittsburgh, Pa.) also scored in double figures adding 11 points. Four Lincoln (Pa.) players had five rebounds each. As a team, the Lady Lions knocked down a season-high 30 (of 50) free throw attempts.
Bowie State (6-14, 3-9 CIAA, 2-4 North) was led by sophomore Bria Robinson (Richmond, Va.) with 13 points and senior Jasmine Jacobs (Baltimore, Md.) added 11 points in the loss. Robinson also hauled down a game-high nine rebounds.
It was pretty much a nip and tuck first 20 minutes of action until the Lady Lions used a 6-0 run to take a 24-18 lead. A layup by Bowie State junior Anisha Wilson (New Haven, Conn.) at the 4:53 mark stopped the Lincoln (PA) run.
The Lady Lions lead grew to a first half high of eight points as Lincoln (Pa.) headed into intermission with a slim 31-29 advantage. Lincoln (Pa.) shot a chilly 8-of-27 (29.6 percent) from the field in the first period and made 13-of-19 (68.4 percent) free throws.
Bowie State’s Lady Bulldogs made 8-of-24 (33.3 percent) first half field goals and 11-of-14 (78.6 percent from the free throw line. The Lady Bulldogs defense created 17 Lady Lions’ turnovers in the first half.
Lincoln (Pa.) (8-14, 4-8 CIAA, 2-4 North) opened the second half with a 14-6 run to take a 45-37 lead at under 12 minute media timeout of the second half.
A 3-point field goal by Bowie State sophomore Jasmine McIntosh (Bowie, Md.) followed by a layup by senior Cortney Baynard (Dover, Del.) cut the Lincoln (Pa.) lead to 48-42 with 7:57 left to play in the game. A pair of free throws by BSU’s McIntosh trimmed the deficit to four only to have Lincoln answer with a 6-0 run.
The Lady Lions pushed the lead to 54-44 and were not threatened the rest of the way.
Bowie State was out-rebounded by Lincoln (Pa.) 51-42 but the Lady Bulldogs scored 18 points off 22 Lady Lions’ turnovers.
Bowie State will return to action on Wednesday, February 13 when they hit the road for a key divisional matchup at Virginia Union University. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 pm in VUU’s Barco-Stevens Hall.
The Uncanny Cool of Henry Rollins
If you ever want to ask yourself: "why do I have to lift weights so heavy?" maybe this 1994 essay by Henry Rollins can sum it up for you. Essentially I see it summed up as God created us to have no limits, but life abundantly. Thank you God and Thank you Mr. Rollins:
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Iron and the Soul – By Henry Rollins
I believe that the definition of definition is reinvention. To not be like your parents. To not be like your friends. To be yourself.
Completely.
When I was young I had no sense of myself. All I was, was a product of all the fear and humiliation I suffered. Fear of my parents. The humiliation of teachers calling me “garbage can” and telling me I’d be mowing lawns for a living. And the very real terror of my fellow students. I was threatened and beaten up for the color of my skin and my size. I was skinny and clumsy, and when others would tease me I didn’t run home crying, wondering why. I knew all too well. I was there to be antagonized. In sports I was laughed at. A spaz. I was pretty good at boxing but only because the rage that filled my every waking moment made me wild and unpredictable. I fought with some strange fury. The other boys thought I was crazy.
I hated myself all the time. As stupid at it seems now, I wanted to talk like them, dress like them, carry myself with the ease of knowing that I wasn’t going to get pounded in the hallway between classes. Years passed and I learned to keep it all inside. I only talked to a few boys in my grade. Other losers. Some of them are to this day the greatest people I have ever known. Hang out with a guy who has had his head flushed down a toilet a few times, treat him with respect, and you’ll find a faithful friend forever. But even with friends, school sucked. Teachers gave me hard time. I didn’t think much of them either.
Then came Mr. Pepperman, my advisor. He was a powerfully built Vietnam veteran, and he was scary. No one ever talked out of turn in his class. Once one kid did and Mr. P. lifted him off the ground and pinned him to the blackboard. Mr. P. could see that I was in bad shape, and one Friday in October he asked me if I had ever worked out with weights. I told him no. He told me that I was going to take some of the money that I had saved and buy a hundred-pound set of weights at Sears. As I left his office, I started to think of things I would say to him on Monday when he asked about the weights that I was not going to buy. Still, it made me feel special. My father never really got that close to caring. On Saturday I bought the weights, but I couldn’t even drag them to my mom’s car. An attendant laughed at me as he put them on a dolly.
Monday came and I was called into Mr. P.’s office after school. He said that he was going to show me how to work out. He was going to put me on a program and start hitting me in the solar plexus in the hallway when I wasn’t looking. When I could take the punch we would know that we were getting somewhere. At no time was I to look at myself in the mirror or tell anyone at school what I was doing. In the gym he showed me ten basic exercises. I paid more attention than I ever did in any of my classes. I didn’t want to blow it. I went home that night and started right in.
Weeks passed, and every once in a while Mr. P. would give me a shot and drop me in the hallway, sending my books flying. The other students didn’t know what to think. More weeks passed, and I was steadily adding new weights to the bar. I could sense the power inside my body growing. I could feel it.
Right before Christmas break I was walking to class, and from out of nowhere Mr. Pepperman appeared and gave me a shot in the chest. I laughed and kept going. He said I could look at myself now. I got home and ran to the bathroom and pulled off my shirt. I saw a body, not just the shell that housed my stomach and my heart. My biceps bulged. My chest had definition. I felt strong. It was the first time I can remember having a sense of myself. I had done something and no one could ever take it away. You couldn’t say shit to me.
It took me years to fully appreciate the value of the lessons I have learned from the Iron. I used to think that it was my adversary, that I was trying to lift that which does not want to be lifted. I was wrong. When the Iron doesn’t want to come off the mat, it’s the kindest thing it can do for you. If it flew up and went through the ceiling, it wouldn’t teach you anything. That’s the way the Iron talks to you. It tells you that the material you work with is that which you will come to resemble. That which you work against will always work against you.
It wasn’t until my late twenties that I learned that by working out I had given myself a great gift. I learned that nothing good comes without work and a certain amount of pain. When I finish a set that leaves me shaking, I know more about myself. When something gets bad, I know it can’t be as bad as that workout.
I used to fight the pain, but recently this became clear to me: pain is not my enemy; it is my call to greatness. But when dealing with the Iron, one must be careful to interpret the pain correctly. Most injuries involving the Iron come from ego. I once spent a few weeks lifting weight that my body wasn’t ready for and spent a few months not picking up anything heavier than a fork. Try to lift what you’re not prepared to and the Iron will teach you a little lesson in restraint and self-control.
I have never met a truly strong person who didn’t have self-respect. I think a lot of inwardly and outwardly directed contempt passes itself off as self-respect: the idea of raising yourself by stepping on someone’s shoulders instead of doing it yourself. When I see guys working out for cosmetic reasons, I see vanity exposing them in the worst way, as cartoon characters, billboards for imbalance and insecurity. Strength reveals itself through character. It is the difference between bouncers who get off strong-arming people and Mr. Pepperman.
Muscle mass does not always equal strength. Strength is kindness and sensitivity. Strength is understanding that your power is both physical and emotional. That it comes from the body and the mind. And the heart.
Yukio Mishima said that he could not entertain the idea of romance if he was not strong. Romance is such a strong and overwhelming passion, a weakened body cannot sustain it for long. I have some of my most romantic thoughts when I am with the Iron. Once I was in love with a woman. I thought about her the most when the pain from a workout was racing through my body.
Everything in me wanted her. So much so that sex was only a fraction of my total desire. It was the single most intense love I have ever felt, but she lived far away and I didn’t see her very often. Working out was a healthy way of dealing with the loneliness. To this day, when I work out I usually listen to ballads.
I prefer to work out alone. It enables me to concentrate on the lessons that the Iron has for me. Learning about what you’re made of is always time well spent, and I have found no better teacher. The Iron had taught me how to live. Life is capable of driving you out of your mind. The way it all comes down these days, it’s some kind of miracle if you’re not insane. People have become separated from their bodies. They are no longer whole.
I see them move from their offices to their cars and on to their suburban homes. They stress out constantly, they lose sleep, they eat badly. And they behave badly. Their egos run wild; they become motivated by that which will eventually give them a massive stroke. They need the Iron Mind.
Through the years, I have combined meditation, action, and the Iron into a single strength. I believe that when the body is strong, the mind thinks strong thoughts. Time spent away from the Iron makes my mind degenerate. I wallow in a thick depression. My body shuts down my mind.
The Iron is the best antidepressant I have ever found. There is no better way to fight weakness than with strength. Once the mind and body have been awakened to their true potential, it’s impossible to turn back.
The Iron never lies to you. You can walk outside and listen to all kinds of talk, get told that you’re a god or a total bastard. The Iron will always kick you the real deal. The Iron is the great reference point, the all-knowing perspective giver. Always there like a beacon in the pitch black. I have found the Iron to be my greatest friend. It never freaks out on me, never runs. Friends may come and go. But two hundred pounds is always two hundred pounds.
Lincoln (PA) 65 - Bowie State 50 (WOMEN'S Bb FINAL)
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – Courtney Smith (Milwaukee, Wisc.) scored a team-high 13 points as Lincoln University of Pennsylvania toppled Bowie State University 65-50. Bowie State junior Bria Robinson recorded team-highs of 13 points and nine rebounds to pace the Lady Bulldogs.
Complete story to come later
8 hours from death, he found a way to beat cancer
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Friday, February 8, 2013
MMA World Expo NYC Feb 16th & 17th
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