The Entertainer

In the recent success of Jay-Z and Rihanna's latest compilation "Empire State of Mind", we are reminded of their predecessor, a man of such rich talent, technically free flowing fingers and a suave vocal presence. Billy Joel, the original entertainer, a man who was representing New York well before Sean Carter was Jay-Z.

"Empire State of Mind" has been overplayed in the past year of its release. The same can not be said of Billy's "New York State of Mind". First off, it doesn't get much radio recognition amidst the mainstream, Autotune'd hits that Jay-Z despises. More importantly, the song is so wonderfully constructed that it would be very hard to get tired of.

Simply sweet chord progressions allow for much improvisation on the keys. The sax reflects the very laid back message that the lyrics are trying to provide. We are often looking to go somewhere, looking for something, in search of the exotic to connect with. However, perhaps what's important is where the head's at, where the body can groove. Once you find your home, that's where you'll have your New York State of Mind.

Beer Mile

Two words, representing contrasting ideals, to create one grueling event. However the event represents perfect harmony between work and play, a true test of toughness in two disciplines.

The rules from BEERMILE.COM :
1. Each competitor drinks four cans of beer and runs four laps on a track
(Start - beer/lap, beer/lap, beer/lap, beer/lap - finish).
2. Beer must be consumed before the lap is begun, within the
transition area which is the 10 meter zone before the start/finish
line on a 400m track.
3. The race begins with the drinking of the first beer in the last meter
of the transition zone to ensure the comptitors run a complete mile
(1609 meters).
4. Women also drink four beers in four laps (past rule lists only required
ladies to drink three beers).
5. Competitors must drink canned beer and the cans should not be
less than 355ml (the standard can volume) or 12oz (the imperial equivalent).
Bottles may be substituted for cans as long as they are at least
12 oz (341 ml) in volume.
6. No specialized cans or bottles may be used that give an advantage
by allowing the beer to pour at a faster rate. ie "super mega
mouth cans" or "wide mouth bottles" are prohibited.
7. Beer cans must not be tampered with in any manner, ie. no
shotgunning or puncturing of the can except for opening the can by
the tab at the top. The same applies with bottles - no straws or
other aids are allowed in order to aid in the speed of pouring.
8. Beer must be a minimum of 5% alcohol by volume. Hard ciders and lemonades
will not suffice. The beer must be a fermented alcoholic beverage
brewed from malt and flavored with hops. For an abbreviated list of valid
beers and exceptions, click here.
9. Each beer can must not be opened until the competitor enters the
transition zone on each lap.
10. Competitors who vomit before they finish the race must complete
one penalty lap at the end of the race (immediately after the
completion of their 4th lap). Note: Vomitting more than once
during the race still requires only one penalty lap at the end.

32 year old World Record Holder Jim Finlayson, who hails from the beautiful Victoria British Columbia, has the best official time in the world, recorded as 5:09. His beer of choice, the tasty Granville Island Winter Ale, bottle variety.

5:09 is a decent stand alone time for a mile. Much respect for someone who can consume 4 beers along the way.

He is a two time Canadian National Marathon Champion. However, as impressive as sub 30min 10km or sub 1:07 Half Marathon times are, runners who enjoy having their drinks may be further in awe of his beer mile record.



Jim Finlayson - sober




Ready, set, drink!

Wimbledon Marathon Matches

The oldest tennis tournament in the world assumed in its position last Monday, in the shadow of the the world's biggest sporting tournament. The World Cup, having started just 10 days prior, did not lose any patriotic aficionados, a few of whom were glued to their couches uncertain if their respective countries would survive the round robin.

The viewers' preferential world cup viewing is justified as the tournament, which began in 1930, only takes place every four years, whereas Wimbledon, initiated in 1877, is an annual event.


Uruguay: 1930


Wimbledon's Early Days

It is rather ironic however to note that World Cup 2010 in South Africa, presently overriding any press space normally given to Wimbledon, will inevitably be forgotten in the future, unless some historically great feat were to occur. On the other hand, Wimbledon 2010, will always be remember for one epic match in early round play, amongst a couple lower ranked seeds.

Wimbledon's rule is that the "Gentlemen" must play out the final set if tied at 6-6 until one man wins two games in a row. This is unlike any other tennis match in where the players simply have a tiebreak. Thus, a year after the fabled Roddick-Federer hold your serve match, the inevitable occurred.

The line: Isner def. Mahut 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(9-7), 7–6(7-3), 70–68.

70-68. 138 games in the final set. Time of play: 11hrs 5min. Spread over 3 days.

This all took place quietly in the background as final games were played in the world cup group stage.

It is quite obvious as to why Isner lost in straight sets in his following match. Yet this is not important. What matters is that two men were relentless, and battled for three days until the other erred and lost a series of points.

Although for the majority of us, tennis may be considered a leisurely activity, this match, which won't be touched for a long time coming, reflects the pinnacle of competition and will be respectfully noted as just that. Many call it a marathon match, but marathons don't last 11 hours. If endurance analogies are to be made, then Isner and Mahut went head to head in a full out Tour de Wimbledon.

Thus, although the Vuvuzelas drown out anything lower than 127dB, they will soon fade away and become more sparse. Yet the echo of this match will resonate indefinitely, so long as Wimbledon lore is alive.



In world cup news:

SQUAT

You don't know squat until you have squatted.

In a world of La Z Boys, computer chairs and recliners, the modern human body has become maladaptive, imbalanced and inappropriately tightened. Our ancestral resting form (and excreting position) was the full squat, a position which has up until recently deemed dangerous and high risk. Thus, the oldest, mechanically sound posture has been forsaken and replaced by a hip inhibiting, vertebrae pinching hunchback.



We are instead seeking in vain to find comfort in this:



It is indeed unnecessary to revert back to the full squat as our default resting posture, as we have lost the ability and flexibility to safely assume the position (at least in the western world.

However, it is possible to perform the movement as an exercise and oscillate through the full range of motion. Every workout regime, in order to be successful must, among other factors, require a good deal of movement through various planes, and squats.

Novels could be written about the squat pertaining to its physiological effects on the body as well as biomechanics and variations. Doing so in one post would be close to impossible and boring to the reader who is simply looking for a quick anecdote.

Thus I leave you with a few points to ponder:
-the full squat puts less shear force on the knees than a partial squat
-a proper full squat is achieved with proper spine extension and will strengthen the back
-the legs are twice as big as the arms and will indeed stimulate muscle growth and fat loss, the paradoxical universal goal of fitness enthusiasts everywhere
-promotion of a strong booty creates a aesthetically pleasing booty

The Strenuous Life

Mr. Theodore Roosevelt (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919) - we shall not refer to him as Teddy, a nickname he despised - insisted that people must strive to live a strenuous life. That is, to seek and overcome adversity and hardship in order to achieve success and prosper.

Although his ideals were transformed to align with American imperialism, they are on a more basic and instinctive level representative of the drive that has eluded the Western world. We try to hard to be comfortable, justifying any challenge as being futile and wasteful of energy. What has resulted is a society of critics and less doers, a people too scared to fail.

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again. Because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, he who knows the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly, knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither victory nor defeat".

Theodore Roosevelt -

One must realize that it is not the outcome that matters, but the transformation that takes place along the way.