Beyond the volleyball court, we've done activities such as bowling, ping pong, poker, but a few things I love to do are going to the theatre and, oddly enough, karaoke. Over the last year, I have done more karaoke than I really want to admit, but it is all done in fun.
As a life plan, I feel that you should do things that make you happy. And I feel happy when we do karaoke. And I heavily stress that I am a "karaok-er" (is that a word?), not a singer. There is a difference. Karaoke is all about fun, and you can be as carefree as you want to be. I used to worry what people thought
about me when I did karaoke in the bars. I steadily got over that silliness when some volleyballers and I started hitting a few karaoke bars around the city. I must mention three volleyballers--Dee, Peter P., Tracy--and just about every week we did a little bit of karaoke. People may have been different and the locations varied, but those three really made it all the more fun. We had a regular spot in the midtown area, but in March of last year Tracy and I checked out another place we had heard about--Karaoke 17, which has remained my favorite place. It's a small place, but it has the best song selection in the city (I just wish it had a bigger bar area because it gets crowded with like 20 people). We would find any excuse to go to karaoke 
whether it be during happy hour on the weekends or after a league game or open play until the early hours of the morning. More than a few times I walked up as the sun was coming up, no lie. It's just a social outlet which may not be for everyone's taste, but DAMN I have a lot of FUN!
Disappointment and frustration come with any sport, and volleyball is no different. In the field of competition, there are winners and losers, and it's the reaction to the outcome that shows a player's true character. Of course, everybody wants to win, but, hey, it's not always going to happen. I used to get so mad at myself when I made errors especially if it lead to the team's loss in the game. I would completely shut my team members out, I would retreat into my own world. That got old really fast, and that's when I learned about the mental aspect of the game. Picture it--once a point is over, it's over-get over it-move on and get ready for the next point. There's no point in looking back at a point you've already lost (or won). It's good to go back and review that point, but only after the game is over. But during a game, you must be ready for the point happening at the present time. Your team is depending on you. You can't let a mistake on a previous point affect you. I know it's easier said than done for some people, but it's part of the psychological realm of a game.
I'm always amazed at some players who have mastered this psychological aspect of the game. They are the ones who lead the team and set an example. Even after an error, they are able to make the team feel assured and ready for the next point. One of those players that I hope
to be more like is Brian "Go-Go." He moved away back in September but he was not only a great player on the court but also a wonderful friend. His skills on the court were amazing but he was also a teacher and supporter, completely cheering on the team even when the score was bleak. A few friends were discussing the other day how much we miss his presence in New York and that his visit in December was way too short. But he is building a new life somewhere out West and we wish him all the best. He represented so much of how a volleyball player should be, not arrogant about his skills but not afraid to show them, but also to be a team player who builds the morale of the team even in the face of looming defeat or joyous win. Here's to you Go-Go!!!!
SCORECARD
Brandeis Open Play
Gossip is an essential part of any social interaction group. It was discussed heavily in the book I mentioned a few entries back, "Urban Tribes" by Ethan Watters, as a way to keep group members informed about others who are not able to spend one-on-one time with each other. In the world of volleyball, it's gossip that propels not only among team members but also between teams. In open play, from week to week the teams can comprise different personalities and eventually produce a lot of "talk" when they are off the court. At open play, the rule is to play two games and then sit out one game during the night so it leaves a bit of time to sit around snack and "talk." It is during these times where people are updated on their life situations, work opportunities, relationships, or just funny stories. Gossip is spread during this time and it may be good or really bad. It's just part of social situations, and how the group reacts to the gossip makes for some wonderful or uncomfortable situations. I'm completely guilty of adding to the "talk" and may mention a few things about people, but I would never say anything to damage anyone personally. Or do I? No, really I don't. I just hope that someone would stop me before anything went too far in damaging someone's reputation. This is such a random post but it's a thought I've had before around the volleyball court.
Oh, also I went to watch NYU men's team last night and it was an interesting game. They did not play up to the level that I've seen them play before and I really thought they were going to lose the match. I had to leave during the third game and they were down 1-2 when I left. So I really expected them to not win because their play was not their best. But surprisingly when I checked their score today they made a big comeback and beat the opponent. Never say never in volleyball, there's always a chance for a comeback. God, I love this game, too bad I missed watching that comeback because what I saw before I left was not very watchable.
In recent weeks, I've experienced a health change. After passing my routine physical exam in November with excellent results, I experienced a lot of discomfort with dizziness and loss of balance in late December through early January. It happened after a brief illness that caused me more mental anguish than actual physical. I went back to the doctor and there was a surprise when my blood pressure had risen. It was at a very severe level, and I started on medication to lower it. I've had family history of blood pressure and diabetes but I was always more concerned about getting diabetes than actually having high blood pressure. I mean I was not stressed or totally physically worthless, but I kept experiencing dizziness that interrupted a normal day and it went on for weeks before we got it under control. So far, the medication has been working and I haven't had any recurrence of those dizziness days. But it was also a realization that I'm getting older and I needed to start monitoring my health a little bit more. Not a drastic change but minor adjustments that would help me out in the long run. I really only had volleyball as my major sport, what other sport could I try. In the diet area, I started slowly and just cut back in my portions and being mindful of what I actually eat. I have terrible eating habits especially for someone who usually gets home at 11:30pm and has dinner, it was definitely a time to change. But a friend told me that it must be proceeded with caution, not too fast. So besides watching my diet, I found another sport (well, sort of)--taking dance classes which I totally love. I've only taken a few hip-hop and jazz dance classes but it reminded me how much I loved to dance. It's another way to help me out as I try to figure out this blood pressure situation. Volleyball may let me get out the stress by hitting on that ball, but it's the dance class that allows me to be expressive and free.
SCORECARD
Viewed Matches
NYU vs. Stevens Institute of Technology: 3-2
How crazy are people willing to be to play a little volleyball? I can provide one answer--arrive early in the freezing cold at Brandeis HS. They may do the same thing for other sports like baseball or football, but those are usually the spectators, not the players. In our own little place in the world located on 84th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenue in NYC lies Brandeis HS. And on Sundays in the winter months, we gather to "line-up" for sign-up. The front two courts are labeled advanced and intermediate, and they're just labels because I play on the one called advanced and I'm far from it. But it's these two courts (48 people, 3 teams of 8 on each court) that people are wanting to make it onto, and over the years they have been arriving earlier and earlier to get in line. As I've said before, over three years ago when I first started going to Sunday open plays, I showed up at 1:00pm (the official start time) and there was not even enough people there to fill up the first court. Fast forward a couple of years and I would show up and be one of the first people to arrive. At that time, we would simply put our bag down after the person in front of you and just wait until noon when we would sign up at noon and then come back at 1:00pm when the gym opened. That bag held your position in line. But there were times when people at some point in the line would say they had more than a few bags and that represented their friends who would join them later in the line. As long as the people behind you were aware of that then it was perfectly fine. But we did have some folks who showed up and saw their friends who were at the front of the line somewhere and go join them and cut in front of everyone else. That was totally not cool. We would complain but it was kind of pointless after they signed in. So when the new season started back in October, I would still be one of the first ones to show up. We had a lot of repeat "jumpers" last season, and I did not want that to happen to friends who got shafted by those individuals this season. So I just sort of took charge and explained that I would start a list of those who arrived and they would receive a number. That number was just their spot in the line and as we signed up I would make sure that each person was present and accounted for and there would be no room for "jumpers." We've had a few instances where "friends" have shown up and expected to get in line with their friends at the front of the line. That was not going to happen this season, not as long as I'm there. When people arrive too late to make it to the front court, I simply tell them that they must arrive earlier, no exceptions. Most of the time, those people got there earlier the next time and made it. This new system has worked out and there have not been any complaints, except from the ones who "felt they deserved to be on the first court" because of their "skills." People arrive as early as 9:30am, no lie. During these past few weeks, when the weather has been bitterly cold, people are able to get a number and go find a place to warm up. I don't mind being out there because I prepare and bundle up heavily. It's just a way to keep it fair. Even the organizers of the league can't believe how crazy it has gotten--to line-up to sign-in for volleyball hours before they actually start playing. Talk about crazy, and I'm completely at the front of that line.
In one's eyes, volleyball may be considered a sport ruled by strength and power, but in another's eyes it may depend on strategy and mental challenges. In all respects, it's both, and the resulting combination is a certain attitude carried among a player. An attitude represents the persona by which others are going to perceive about you. I talk about attitude because I've actually encounter many people's attitude and how it affects others on the court. I don't mind if players walk onto a court and starts spouting a lot of talk about their skills or how good they are as long as they have the ability to back it up. I'm not intimidated by it. If they are that good, then playing against them is going to help me improve in my gamek. But if they can't backup what they're saying, then it can turn into a joke. I recently had this happen where I had someone come up to me at sign-up at Brandeis throwing around a lot of titles and such. And my response, "yeah, so." He had to get in line and wait around just like everyone else. Then as we were watching him play, people all around were shocked to find out his skills were less than spectacular after he was talking big and throwing it out there that his was a "semi-pro." It's usually the people who do too much talking usually aren't the ones with all the skills. But then there is positive attitude. These people are the gems of the court because they lend their postive energy to the team, helping them to improve, boosting others confidence and basically being a cheerleader of a team. Their attitude is ruled as unselfish. Give me that kind of attitude any time, and the other kind can just continue to hit their ball in the net.
SCORECARD
Viewed Matches
Claire and Stefan's Team (One Hit Wonders): 2-1
Injuries are a normal part of sporting activities. They happen and everyone experiences them at one point or another, each with its own severity and extent. In volleyball, it's normally the ankle and the fingers that are severely taped or wrapped up. It's one of those fears you have from playing any sport, but I was especially scared to experience any pain. Nobody likes to go through that but I've seen too many people go down with the pain and it's not pretty. One summer day a few of us went out to a friend's house out on Long Island and played some volleyball in her yard. The ground was pretty level with a few small holes here and there. Well, in one of the final plays of the day, Rebecca fell in one of those holes and then got rolled on by another player, all of which did damage to her ankle. She was in so much pain that her ride back to the city was filled with anguish with any bump in the road. As a runner this injury really affected her livelihood. Her recovery took more than a year yet she continued to have problems with that foot. It is this type of injury that completely scares me.
When I see someone with an ankle brace or knee wrapped, I can only imagine what kind of pain they went through. But they're still playing the game. I often wondered if I don't play the game hard enough because I'm so preoccupied by my fear of injury. I've only had one bad ankle problem on the court. I went up for a hit, and a guy on the other side went under the net so when I landed it was on his foot. I went down and hurt my ankle. I got carried to the side and they continued playing. I rested for a few minutes and quickly taped up my ankle. I was able to walk soon enough and got back into the game. It wasn't too painful and no immediate swelling. It was mostly the bone of the ankle that hurt. I slept with my foot elevated that night just in case. It didn't matter because when I woke up my ankle was swollen and I could barely move. I spent the entire day in bed with my ankle iced and elevated, and I hate being knocked down like that. It was a simple sprain and I'm lucky that it was nothing more serious like others I have witnessed over the years. Knock on wood and keep saying a little prayer.
SCORECARD
Brandeis Open Play
about me when I did karaoke in the bars. I steadily got over that silliness when some volleyballers and I started hitting a few karaoke bars around the city. I must mention three volleyballers--Dee, Peter P., Tracy--and just about every week we did a little bit of karaoke. People may have been different and the locations varied, but those three really made it all the more fun. We had a regular spot in the midtown area, but in March of last year Tracy and I checked out another place we had heard about--Karaoke 17, which has remained my favorite place. It's a small place, but it has the best song selection in the city (I just wish it had a bigger bar area because it gets crowded with like 20 people). We would find any excuse to go to karaoke 
whether it be during happy hour on the weekends or after a league game or open play until the early hours of the morning. More than a few times I walked up as the sun was coming up, no lie. It's just a social outlet which may not be for everyone's taste, but DAMN I have a lot of FUN!
