I have no title for this. McPherson and stuff.

I am now less than 14 hours away from playing basketball at my favorite place ever.
- If not for basketball, I would have never left this place.
- If not for basketball, I would have never found this place.



Safe to say, emotions are running rampant. Despite being cut from the team shortly before our first game and being forced to transfer [KWU debacle, circa 2005] in order to pursue my dream of playing college basketball in an actual game--I have nothing but fond memories of both McPherson the town and the college. I love it there.

-- The ankle is feeling better-ish. I ran on it for the first time on Wednesday. It's still pretty sore, and for an idea of what colors still appear on my foot and ankle, [click here]. Neat, huh?

But it's playable and shouldn't be as difficult in a half-court, 3-on-3 setting as Wednesday's full-court pickup ball was. Here's hoping...

Other topics:

- Had a lengthy blog written the other day, posted it and quickly removed it due to its controversial nature. Apologies to anyone who saw it and clicked, only to see it'd been removed.

- 10 days away from my favorite day of the year--Cubs Opening Day! You could say I'm excited.

- Effectively limited everything I look for in girls down into one specific trait--nerves. If I get nervous while talking to a girl, very good sign. If not, probably not a chance. Not sure why this never occurred to me, but I feel like I've stepped on a gold mine. Eureka!

- I'm really curious what everyone thinks of the new layout. I received an e-mail from Blogger, advertising its new features and felt like trying something new again. Any feedback is appreciated--as always.

Quote of the day:
"Worry often gives small things a large shadow." - Swedish Proverb

Word of the day:
criterion - Singular of criteria. Used it (in the flow, I might add) in the aforementioned deleted blog and wanted an excuse to throw it in here, too, because I've always liked the word. So there.

Do the right thing,
Derrick

Luck of the...inept?

In case you weren't aware, I hurt my ankle playing basketball Sunday night. Hurts. Pretty certain it's just twisted/sprained, not broken--but with no health insurance, can't go to the doctor, either way.

So I'm rehabbing like T.O. before the Super Bowl, trying to heal the best I can before attempting to play in a much-anticipated 3-on-3 basketball tournament on March 27 (10 days). At my favorite place ever.


But walking is tough. You know, swelling and all. I'm past hopping, but it's still a pretty severe limp. Annoying. There are some nice bright colors on the ankle/foot area. Might be neat, if not painful. Crossing my fingers it will pass in a week. Likely? Not so much. A guy can hope, right?

Those who know me well know that I don't take medicine--for anything. Not gonna start now, either. I have my reasons. And despite what some believe, they're legit ones. So I'll have to do it the old fashioned way: Ice, elevate, etc.

Also, it's St. Patrick's Day today. Truth be told, it would have completely slipped my mind if not for all the Facebook status posts about it. Truth be told, it doesn't mean much to me. Not a drinker, and even if I was...I can barely hobble to the door, so going out at all is out of the question. Not gonna lie, it sucks.

Still, I'm wearing my green, anyway. Not that anyone's here to pinch me if I didn't...

Either way, I could use some luck lately--and not just with this darned ankle.


Cheers,
Derrick

Degree in liberal arts? You want fries with that?

As you probably know, I attended 4 colleges in my post-secondary career. Primarily in my quest to play college basketball--which I did. But that aside, I decided it might be fun to compare the different aspects of each, once and for all. Just kind of compiling my various favorites at each place.

Pittsburg State University: NCAA Div. II--Pittsburg, KS (Fall 2003)

Mascot: Gorillas
Where I played ball: The Weede Gymnasium--on PSU campus, Pittsburg YMCA
Best basketball moment: Dominating 3-on3 intramurals with Justin, Cortney, and Eric.
Best teacher: Chuck Killingsworth. He only "taught" my Freshman Experience class, but he's the only guy whose name I remember, and was a pretty cool guy.
Best friend: Justin Rogers
Crushes: Krystine Foster, Laura Garrison

McPherson College: NAIA--McPherson, KS (Spring/Fall 2004)
Mascot: Bulldogs
Where I played ball: Sports Center--on MC campus.
Best basketball moment: Getting the chance to play for Coach Trimmell--even if just in practice. Scoring 56 points in an intramural game was pretty neat, too.
Best teacher: Whoever taught my biology class. Female, maybe in her late-30s or so. She was pregnant during one of my two semesters there (for anyone reading this who may know who I'm talking about). She was real cool, and actually got me semi-interested in science--which I never thought possible. Wish I could remember her name...
Best friend: Justin Bacon
Crush: Sarah Story

Kansas Wesleyan University: NAIA--Salina, KS (Spring 2005)

Mascot: Coyotes
Where I played ball: St. John's Military School--I played there with some football guys on occasion. Oh, and don't forget the shoddy old gym with the yellow lighting.
Best basketball moment: Playing college basketball, period. Circumstances were all but ideal, but I did it, nonetheless. Playing against my pals from McPherson, and my ex-roommates Donta' and Travis was really cool--though I would've rather been on the other side.
Best teacher: No good ones stand out. This was not a pleasant semester for me. Yikes.
Best friend: No one. Not while I was there, anyway. Ashley Hurd and I have become good friends since, though.
Crush: No one. I kept to myself--a lot.

Wichita State University: NCAA Div. I--Wichita, KS (2005-2007)
Mascot: Shockers
Where I played ball: Heskett Center--on WSU campus. Still play there whenever I can get back up there. I try to once a week.
Best basketball moment: Just the everyday camaraderie of the guys up at Heskett.
Best teacher: Stephen Hathaway. I took three different Literature classes from him. Would've taken more if I could. Hilarious man, and a very good teacher. Second place: Lindsey Harvell. But mostly because we became friends after that class. It was her first semester as a "real teacher," and she's only 3 years older than me. Cool chick.
Best friend: Amanda Walker. Best person I know, period. My hero. Though I miss Mac all the time, had I stayed, I never would've met her. Because of her, I realize God has a plan with everything He does.
Crushes: Amanda Walker, Darcie Spresser.

Is it weird that I never dated a single one of these college crushes? The only girlfriend I ever had while in college was with a girl I'd actually gone to High School with. This seems a little sad.

Tale of the tape:
Best campus: McPherson College. Small, but very homey. I miss that place every day.
Best cafeteria: Pittsburg State. The food may have been slightly better at Mac, but the convenience, the selection, and friendliness of cooks gives Pitt the edge.
Best dorms: McPherson College. Especially if you lived in Morrison Hall. Second place: Wichita State. The other two schools? Not quality.
Best athletic facilities: McPherson College. K-Dub has built a new gym that I haven't seen since I left. WSU has a very slick D-1 arena (Koch). But without a legit football stadium--or at least a team to use it--it's got to be Mac.
Best coach: Roger Trimmell, McPherson College. Not really even close here. If you know him, you know why. Second place: Nelson Haggerty (ex-Pitt State assistant). Very caring young coach who deserves a shot at the big-time someday. Honorable mention: Mark Turgeon (ex-WSU coach). A few isolated conversations with him, and attended a camp, but obviously never played for him.

I am sure this is not the least bit interesting to any of you, but it gave me something to sort out, if nothing else. Curse me and my OCD, eh?

*Sigh*

Do the right thing,
Derrick

Who are you? Really...

Who are you?
What do you stand for?

"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." - attributed to many, including US Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall, Alexander Hamilton, and the more recognizable Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. Take your pick.

I stand for honorable and decent behavior towards all.
I stand up for the young and old, the big and small.
I stand when people ask if I believe in God.
I stand up for my friends, even when they're odd.

Who are you?
What are your standards?

"Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something." - Henry David Thoreau

This question is pretty broad--and a matter of perception.

When it comes to actions (specifically in a prospective girl): Don't smoke...don't talk like a sailor...don't talk to me about the Yankees--seriously, I find them reprehensible, and a strong representative of all that is soulless and wrong with not only sports, but society in general...don't use the word "busy" or say things like "FML"--ever...don't talk too much in general...don't be cocky or self-absorbed...don't be...well...a hoard of other things that you can ask me about later, but should already know if you know me at all...

When it comes to ethics: Treat people right, period. Should be all I need to say, but many people don't seem get it, so here's more: Open doors for girls, whether they're 2 or 92. Talk to strangers. I've never understood why people say not to--that's terrible advice! Be a courteous driver. Give things away--even when you can't afford to...Money. Clothes. Love. Organs. You laugh; I'm serious.

Who are you?
Who do you play for?

"Mike Eruzione--Winthrop, Massachusetts...I play for...the United States of America." - Mike Eruzione, played by actor Patrick O'Brien Demsey--"Miracle"

Okay, that was corny. But sports are a big part of my life, and it's effective.

I was a Kansas Wesleyan Coyote for the only "official" time I spent as a college basketball player.
But I will always be a Bulldog at heart...
I was a McPherson College Bulldog in my collegiate days that mattered most to me. I still miss it there every day.
I grew up a Pretty Prairie Bulldog. It's in my heart--it's embedded in me.

Who are you?
What do you represent?

"I'm a better person than I was yesterday, but not as good as I will be tomorrow." - Derrick Mead

Yes, I just quoted myself.

I'm a country boy--but not a hick.
I'm a basketball player--coach, too.
I'm a writer and a prankster.
I'm confident and shy at the same time.
I'm a serious listener and a funny talker.
I'm just dumb enough to be smart--or maybe the other way around.

I want people to know me, but not really.

It's the reason I changed my major in college.

I once wanted nothing more than to be a sports commentator--preferably baseball. From ages 8-20 I dreamed about one day calling moments like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBJ89V7A_3c

The names Kirk Gibson and Joe Carter will always give me goosebumps just at the mere sound of them.

But ultimately, I didn't want to be that widely seen--or heard. I want to be much more discreet, but inspirational at the same time. Like maybe becoming the most successful basketball coach at a school no one has ever heard of--something like that.

It's the reason I'm a friend to all, but a stranger to many.

I'll help anyone in need. Example: I spent almost 2 hours helping a lady who should've been killed after rolling her car several times a few months back at 3 AM.

Never told her my name, though.
That's just who I am.

So tell me...

Who are you?

Do the right thing,
Derrick

You used to be Mel Clark?

Day 27: INcomplete

Morning session: N/A
Evening session: 6.29 miles
Total distance: 6.29 miles

No morning run yet again. Trying not to be too hard on myself, since I've already reached the 300 mark, but...this was the third morning in 4 days that I didn't run. Need to get after it tomorrow. We'll see if that pans out.

Managed to dig up a few more sports flicks around the house, and I'll check the town library to see if they have any others that I haven't watched yet this month...

Now: Rookie of the Year. It features the Cubs; what's not to like?

Speaking of which--the boys in blue are tied 1-1 heading to the 13th inning. Here we go again. They need the win to hold onto 1st place. C'mon, fellas!

But there's only a few minutes left in the movie, so next we'll have: Angels in the Outfield. Funny flick with some baseball, some silliness, and a few nice, sentimental moments, too.


**Cubs win, Cubs win! Grand slam, Alfonso Soriano! 5-1, Cubs in 13 innings. Huge, huge win!!**

Tonight's Top 10 list:

Top 10 Favorite teachers (excluding my mom) I've ever had (and what classes I had with them):

10. Chuck Killingsworth, Pittsburg State University: Fresman Experience
9. Allan Van Asselt, McPherson College: Chemistry
8. Cheryl Matthews, Pretty Prairie Middle School: 7th/8th grade English
7. Jon Johnson, Pretty Prairie High School: American History, American Government
6. C.T. Young, Pretty Prairie High School: Physical Science, Biology
5. Patti French, Pretty Prairie Middle School: 5th grade
4. B.J. Stegall, Pretty Prairie High School: Algebra II, Geometry
3. Lindsey Harvell, Wichita State University: Public Speaking
2. Chuck Ray, Pretty Prairie High School: English, Creative Writing
1. W. Stephen Hathaway, Wichita State University: American Literature, Modern American Writers, Nature of Fiction

Not sure what spurned this, but felt like it was a good use of some thought.

Side note; #3: Lindsey Harvell (aka, Linds) taught my Public Speaking class my first semester at WSU. I was a Junior, had just transferred in, and she was just starting her teaching career.
- She is now a professor at the University of Oklahoma *puke*. We became friends after that semester. Weird stuff. Cool chica, though.

Hathaway and Ray have both been very influential in my, uh, weirdness.

D, out.

That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.

Day 20: Complete

Morning session: 11.52 miles
Evening session: 5.18 miles
Total distance: 16.70 miles

Milestone reached: 250-mile mark

Took awhile getting around (soreness) for the morning run, but completed a new career high once I did. The evening run came at 4:30 (which meant only about 3 hours between runs), due to the Cubs being on at 6 again.

10.78 miles tomorrow would give me a 100-mile week. I can't believe I've trimmed it that close, but it's attainable.

Movie now: The Legend of Bagger Vance. Great flick. Had to watch it for Philosophy of Religion class at Kansas Wesleyan University. Loved it, so I bought it.


Movie from earlier: The Greatest Game Ever Played. This would crack my top 10--heck, probably top 4 or 5 sports movies of all-time, no lie. Brilliantly directed by Bill Paxton. Great acting by Shia LaBeouf. I tear up every time. Definitely a tug at the heart strings.


Note: If you didn't know, today is the 40th anniversary of Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon. An important day in American history.


That inspires tonight's top 10 list:

Top 10 "I'll never forget where I was when..." moments:

10. Michael Jackson's death--read the news of his heart attack from my friend Nick's Facebook status, while in my basement. Kept up with the updates on TMZ.com, because CNN's coverage during the story was absolutely horrendous.
9. Princess Diana's death--my grandparents house. I didn't know much about her, but I was captivated by the story when the news broke.
8. Michael Jordan's last shot with the Bulls--I was up in my mom's room due to bad reception in the basement, as I watched MJ knock off the Jazz. Before watching his comeback with Washington, it seemed inevitable that it would be Mike's last shot, even before he took it. Perfect script, great game, great shot.
7. "Music City Miracle," 2000. Tennessee Titans beat the Buffalo Bills, and advance to the Super Bowl on a last-second kick return after a cross-field lateral pass from tight end Frank Wycheck to receiver Kevin Dyson. I'll never forget the call on that play: "He's got somethin'...he's got somethin'...he's got it, he's got it...he's got it...endzone! Touchdown--Titans! There-are-NO-flags-on-the-field! It's a miracle! Tennessee has pulled a miracle! A miracle for the Titans!"
6. 2004 ALCS; Red Sox shock Yankees--A playoff volleyball game at McPherson College. It was Game 7, and in between sets, me and my basketball buddies would all run out to the lobby to check the score on the big screen. Fun times.
5. Bombing at OKC Federal building--3rd grade classroom. A classmate who was sick the first 2 hours of the day showed up, and shared the news with us. No one believed him. Even made the teacher mad that he'd make up such an awful thing.
4. 2001 World Series; Diamondbacks stun Yankees--sitting in our basement's living room with my little brother, Phil. It seemed to be all-but-over. Rivera on the hill, with a lead? But no. What a finish.
3. OJ Simpson (and Al Cowlings), Bronco chase--unlike most 9 year olds, I knew quite a bit about OJ (sports nut, you know) before the murder charges ever came about, so I was invested in the story from Day 1. I remember watching police cars follow his white Bronco all along that California highway in 1994 from the couch in our old trailer with my sister.
2. Joe Carter, 1993 (Blue Jays win '93 World Series on one of the biggest home runs ever hit--by a former WSU Shocker, no less)--laying on the floor of our old trailer. Went absolutely nuts. I knew then, as an 8 year old, that I'd just witness one of the most important hits in baseball history.
1. 9/11 attacks--Mr. Johnson's classroom (after having Algebra interrupted) at PPHS. The world stood still that day.

D, out.