Not Just A Hat Rack

Books That Make a Difference in the World

I purchased a used copy of the AP Style Guide (I have two freelance writing assignments ... and counting!) at Barnes & Noble's website today. I learned that I was actually purchasing it from Better World Books, an online bookstore which uses its proceeds to fund literacy programs around the world. How cool is that?

I learned that this company is the brainchild of some Notre Dame grads who decided to make some money selling their textbooks at the end of a school year. Having been successful, they launched a campus-wide book drive and raised $8,000 for a local community learning center. Several years and more than $2,000,000 in funding raised, they're still at it. I'm impressed.

Steeplechase vanquished!

It’s 5:32 a.m.
I parked in the shadow of the Utah state capitol and have headed down a trail to Memory Grove park for the start of the 28th annual Wahsatch Steeplechase. Except there are no shadows. There is a glint of morning light, but streetlights are still on. It’s race day.
I have been assigned #250. I like it. Nice, round number. The race appears to be about 75% males. Many runners, including me, are wearing Camelbak-style water carriers on their back. This is not a normal race –you never, ever see Camelbaks in a running race.
There is a quiet nervousness in demeanor of runners. I’m not sure which people fear more: 4,500 of elevation gain; 17.5 total miles; or rattlesnakes.
I chat briefly with Salt Lake City mayoral candidate Jenny Wilson, appropriately attired in a Big Sur Half Marathon t-shirt. She’s friend of Butch Adams, the race organizer, and will fire the starter’s pistol. At 6:05 a.m., we line up. Butch warns everyone it’s supposed to be 101 degrees, suggests we look out for snakes and welcomes Jenny. As she tries to fire the pistol, it doesn’t work, so she yells, “GO!” We’re off. Twenty yards up the road I hear the gun fire. I wonder if Jenny figured it out.

Shhh! I'm hunting rattlesnakes...

Quick post - I have to rest up for this crazy race tomorrow. They sent out the last pre-race update and said the rattlesnakes are looking bigger and healthier than ever. Snakes?!! I could see this turning into a really long and complicated race.

Here's the itinerary... alarm at 4:45am. Leave home at 5:15am. Check in by 5:45am at Memory Grove Park in City Creek Canyon. Start running at 6:00am. Start walking up huge inclines at 6:09am. Fear the rattlesnakes from 6:10am - finish. I really hope I'm done by 10am. It's only 17.5 miles.

I'll take some notes and post my thoughts tomorrow night. Wish me luck.

Monson, Lalas & 64 white kids

Real quick today...

If you haven't read Alexi Lalas' latest rant on MLS vs the English Premier League, this article is the one story you should read about Beckham hype and the Lalas (and Leiweke) vision to make the LA Galaxy a globally known brand. I love Alexi.

Opinions, attention and international headlines all make for unprecedented coverage of Major League Soccer. He's one of the most important ambassadors for American soccer. While you know he had a glint in his eye as he made some comments that Old World soccer scribes will find inflammatory, I agree with him on multiple points. Americans are not as soccer-dumb and naive as many think. Can't wait to read what he comes up with when Beckham actually arrives in America.

Someone hijacked Gordon Monson's column today and dropped the cynical, occasionally parochial (intentionally) column with a tome on Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea. I'm wondering how the psuedo-Monson ended up on a Caribbean beach in the first place - was Lake Powell unavailable?

And finally, check out the lack of diversity in Utah with today's all-state boy's baseball teams. Out of 64 players named all-state in all classes, exactly 64 are white faces. Nothing against Kade, Kolton, Kacen, Kevin and Kyle (2) or Jerron, Jesse, Josh (2), Jordan, Joe, Jace and Justin (3) - but California this is not. There are three surnames that are Hispanic, but that's it. Hmm.

Calling all writers - join me a the kickoff of the Wasatch Ironpen - a 24-hour literary "ultramarathon" that kicks off Thursday at 3pm at the Utah Arts Festival. Local writers will have 24 hours to submit a short story, essay or poem. Winners will be announced Saturday, I think.

Calling all nuts - join me as I attempt the 17-mile Wahsatch Steeplechase run (4,500-foot elevation gain) on Saturday morning setting out at 6am from Memory Grove Park. Send dogs and helicopters if I'm not home by lunch time.

Growing USA Soccer Crisis

Sorry the Beckham and bullfighting entry is so long. Here's a short, humorous look at the history of US Men's National team soccer uniforms from Slate.com. Enjoy. (But do read the other entry, too.)

On Bullfighting and Beckham

It was a magnificent sporting Sunday in Spain where a spectacular feast of drama unfolded at three sold-out venues.

As the appetizer, at 7pm in Barcelona, legendary bullfighter Jose Tomas celebrated a return to the ring after an unexplained five-year retirement. About this return, he simply told El Pais newspaper, "Living without bullfighting is not living." Uncharacteristically media shy for a bullfighter, he disappeared from the public view in 2002. He is rarely interviewed or photographed outside of the ring. Incredibly, one of his conditions for returning this season is that no bullfight in which he participates can be televised.

So his return was a major event. Not just a major sports event but a societal event. Bullfighting is covered in the Culture section of media outlets, not by sports dailies such as Marca and AS. The sport (art?) is entrenched in Spain's history and heritage - and has withstood countless attempts to shutter the sport by animal-rights activists. Jose Tomas' comeback was Michael Jordan, Bruce Springsteen and Clint Eastwood combined.

For one of the few men in history mentioned in the same breath as Manolete, this evening started roughly as he was nearly gored by the first bull which briefly pinned him to the ground. Jose Tomas recovered to earn three "ears" - one from the first and two from the second bull. The oblique beauty and art of bullfighting (I know, not the PC opinion here in the USA), is alluded to in this Yahoo article:

Carlos Ruiz-Villasuso, bullfighting critic for Spanish Television, said Tomas was a bit rusty, but had done "exceptional things based fundamentally on bravery."

He said Tomas' second bull was a bit sluggish, but the bullfighter still managed to put on a good show.

"Few bullfighters are capable of adding what the bull is missing. Very few," he said.

Jose Tomas sold out the 19,000-seat Plaza Monumental in Barcelona for the first time in more than a decade - attracting a wide range of celebrities, politicians and yes, animal rights protestors.

As the bullfighter was being carried from the Plaza on the shoulders of devoted fans, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid served the day's main course, simultaneously kicking off their final games of the season. Barca traveled to relegation-bound Gimnastic Tarragona while Madrid welcomed mid-table Mallorca. Tied in points on the season's final day, Real Madrid owned the tiebreaker based on head-to-head play.

OOOF!

For me, tonight's Real Salt Lake game was about impatient kids. Anxious moments. Spills and chills. Inopportune interventions just before the final whistle. Haste. Frustration. Panic. Rough night?!?? But my story has a happy ending.

You see, I lost my phone. Treo and I were apart from the 82nd minute when the 'Hat Rack boys HAD to go to the bathroom... until 45 minutes after the game when I returned to the stadium to retrieve my phone. Isn't it great to hear a story of redemption? And you thought I was going to write about RSL's 1-0 defeat? Not a chance.

I have another Palm pilot story... I lost my first palm ever - for about two months. I retraced my steps, made lots of phone calls but it was gone. Long gone. Until the snow melted. It had fallen out of my pocket into a snow bank in my driveway only to be discovered weeks and weeks later. That piece of electronics was in a Body Glove protective case - and still worked when I charged it after its two months of hibernation. Props to Body Glove and Palm.

So, can the HDC be the site of another RSL miracle on Sunday? This team needs it.

James Revisited

It's a little late to post this, but if you're in the neighborhood of the Salt Lake City Library tonight, stop by at 7pm as the Community Writing Center presents the newest edition of Sine Cera, a literary journal featuring writing by members of the DiverCity Writing Series. James , which debuted in the 'Hat Rack's early days last November, is included in the anthology and I will also read a selection from it.

You can also pick up a copy of Sine Cera at the Community Writing Center, which is between the public radio station and the comic book store at Library Plaza.

Utah Schools Recruit Teachers in Mexico

How ironic is that? According to today's Salt Lake Tribune, four districts sent representatives to Mexico City to recruit teachers to help with this state's teacher shortage, and booming Spanish-speaking population.

I think it's brilliant. I hope the incoming teachers help break down some of the stereotypes that are so prevalent in this state (and in this country). Did anyone else find it curious that the SL Trib editor felt compelled to put in the sub-headline, "No Utahn is being deprived of a job". A little defensive, are we?

It sounds like the individuals doing the hiring have huge expectations... "We are very happy. What is best about this is they've got proven teaching experience and, more than anything, they're fluent in Spanish."

They hired highly-qualified, well-educated Mexican teachers who speak English AND they are fluent in Spanish? Imagine that! Maybe Utah is on to something?!

I also find it interesting that the article suggests that four teachers will teach math, physics and/or chemistry. Good thing they're fluent in Spanish.

Ardido

There's a lot swirling around this hat rack these days. "My head is spinning," were my exact words to Mrs. Hat Rack earlier this week. Not much that I'm going to divulge here, even though it's mostly good stuff. I'm trying to figure out what to do next with my life and the following thoughts have crossed my mind:

1) I might get paid to write? Finally! Cool.
2) I'm going to start my own company.
3) Thanks, but no thanks - I took myself out of the running for one potential opportunity.
4) I might live where? Ok, I'll consider that. And there. And there. Yes, I could stay here.
5) It's so nice to have the 'Hat Rack In-Laws in town - the 'lil 'Hat Rack trio has warmed up to them in no time.

So whereas I have some opinions on what happened at Rice-Eccles Thursday night (on and off the field), I don't think I want to add to the substantial personal commentary already prevalent on a half-dozen sites I read regularly. Except to say thank you for the warm welcome back to Rice-Eccles by several fans, staff and friends of RSL. Truly. The 30-day break between home games has helped me to put my time at RSL in perspective, as well as to remember that on a certain level, it's a joy just to be a fan again - free of the responsibility that I have carried for 16 consecutive summers in sports.

My only other comment about last night... Howard Wasserman at the Sports Law Blog, whose blog entry (to call it a treatise is a bit grandiose) on freedom of speech and stadiums is being quoted and dissected here on Big Soccer... is an old friend of mine. We were "suite mates" at the legendary Communications Residential College at Northwestern University. I guess he's done pretty well for himself. (Isn't being a regular contributor to a blog mean that you've arrived in life?) Professor Wasserman - that cracks me up. I'll have to send him a note and make sure he knows he's the subject of much chatter at Big Soccer. :)

(Before I forget, a huge kudos to Dave Checketts for cementing the relationship with Ramon Calderon and Real Madrid. This is big. Congrats to all who have worked a long time to see this come to fruition.)

Meantime, I also heard from another voice from the past this week so I'll plug her blog and beautiful music. Mary Beth was a flamboyant freshman at the oft-misunderstood Jones Residential College (where I served as an RA during a very eventful senior year). Last I know she was president of the dorm as a sophomore, but now she's a huge hit singer in Germany, and an ASCAP Award winner (is that good?) in America - and living in Park City! Go buy her music at www.marybethmusic.com.

Finally, it's a pleasure to highlight a great soccer feature story... Grant Wahl took my kind of trip - a driving jaunt through some of the temples of Mexican domestic soccer. I highly recommend you read about his Mexican soccer journey .
PLEASE follow the story through page 6 at least, to find out about ardido.

Here's a snippet:

For years I have tried to understand why great players like Rafael Márquez would spear Cobi Jones with his head in the final moments of Mexico's 2002 World Cup elimination, or why Oswaldo Sánchez would try to cut down Eddie Johnson following the U.S.'s second goal in Phoenix last February. Now, after watching the way the Chivas and Atlas players respond to their rivalry, I have a much clearer idea.