The End of an Era

6914 Copperglow Ct. - Click Here to Purchase!!!

It's the end of yet another era in Heffernan history. Mom and Dad have finally decided to move out of the family home on Copperglow. Although we have certainly moved around a lot in our family history (Heffernan Family Homes), Copperglow is a bit special. We moved in during the summer of 1990, meaning it's been our family home for 22 years. That's a record. 

I know Mom and Dad are ready for a bit of downsizing, so I know they are looking forward to an exciting new place. Also, none of us have lived at home for years. However, I'm sure everyone is a little bit sad that the time to say goodbye to the old homestead is drawing near. We have more stories about this house than any other, but there is one that I am rather interested in...

JUST FESS UP. ONCE AND FOR ALL, WHO HIT OUR MAILBOX WITH A CAR?

Seriously though, use the comments to post your favorite Copperglow memories. It will surely turn this post into a trip down memory lane. 

I would also like to steal Ian's idea and plan one final memory. When Mom and Dad sell the place, I think it would be awesome to get some of us together and have one final blowout - IN THE CUL DE SAC!!! We came in with a bang, and we should go out with one for our beloved neighbor across the street! Fireworks, lots of parked cars, wiffle ball, loud music. Everything that she's ever called the cops on us for should be included in this party. We should have a month or so to plan before a closing. Check your calendars!

A Year With CrossFit

Prior to the kids being born, I was pretty active on the exercise front. I was playing competitive soccer several times a week, year round. I was running in the mornings and hitting the gym after work. Since the kids burst (literally) onto the scene 5 years ago priorities shifted and my time was a premium. So the working out thing was pretty much dropped. I joined a gym after the boy was born, but broke my elbow in a soccer game a month after joining and that was pretty much that. A little over a year ago I decided that it was time to at least try to recover a modicum of previous fitness level. I knew I couldn't commit to another Gold's Gym type of place because I'd get bored and couldn't motivate. I had heard about this new routine called CrossFit through, of all places, a tv blogger that I follow. It entails varying short workouts at high intensity utilizing functional movements along with Olympic style lifting and gymnastics elements. I was drawn to it by the idea of short, constantly changing workouts as those would, hopefully, keep me interested and work with my schedule. I also liked the fact that the workouts regularly forced you to compete against other people, which drives my competitive nature (although, this does have some negative consequences which I'll discuss later).

I've now been doing CrossFit for 1 year (Steph too!) and have managed to maintain a pretty consistent 3-day/week schedule and wanted to document my thoughts. CrossFit has been referred to as a cult by many, and I can definitely see why. People get into it. Really into it. I've managed to keep an open mind about things. Overall, I really enjoy it, but there are definitely some negatives. Here are my thoughts:

PROS

• Timing: Workouts vary in length from 5 to 30 minutes, with most taking me 10-15 minutes to complete. So I'm able to finish a workout, door-to-door, in an hour. This allows me to attend a 6:30a class every morning without having to get up at an insane hour like dad does for his runs and still be home in time to get the kids ready for school.
• Intensity: Those 10-15 minutes that I spend working out are non-stop hell. Lifting, running, jumping - whatever it is, you go non-stop. So while it's not the greatest if you're focused on cardio, it's a helluva full-body workout and you feel those 10-15 minutes for days.
• Variety: Whenever I would go to the gym gym, I had a pretty varied workout for differing days, but I'd also get really bored with it. I would occasionally try to pull in a couple exercises from Men's Health or some bullshit magazine like that, but I always came back to the same old exercises. With CrossFit, there are definitely movements that are prominently featured, by your day to day workouts are never the same. So it keeps things fresh. Added bonus, they usually schedule things so you don't overwork a single muscle group so you can recover adequately.
• Competition: Almost every workout is either based on number of reps you perform in a given time or how quickly you can complete a fixed number of reps. With class sizes typically between 6-18 you're racing against everyone else. That competitive element pushes me harder than I would ever push myself.
• Camaraderie: At the gym gym I went out of my way to not talk to other people. I would always make sure I used weights where I didn't need a spotter. With CrossFit (and maybe this is just our affiliate) almost everyone seems really cool. People talk and laugh about how shitty an upcoming workout is or a just-finished workout was. The really cool thing is how people pull for you. When people are lagging beyond, folks who have finished will start cheering them on. I did my first muscle up (turn your volume down) a couple weeks back and, after two failed attempts I nailed it. Literally everyone in the gym (about 2 dozen people) dropped what they were doing to come over and give me high fives. Either they had been there before and knew from experience what it felt like to do that the first time or it's something they're working towards and could appreciate it. Either way, it was a great feeling.

CONS

• Competition: I know what you're thinking - dumbass already listed this as a pro! Here's the thing, I'm a competitive person. I hate to lose. At anything. I don't let the girl beat me at Connect Four. So I may, on occasion, attempt to do things that I'm really not ready to do. And that leads to...
• Risk of Injury: I haven't had any serious injuries since starting CrossFit, but I have had a constant series of niggling ones - wrist, left elbow, right elbow, achilles, and, currently, knee. Particularly with the Olympic lifts (and box jumps) technique is very, very important. If you try to go heavy before you have the technique down, you're going to get hurt. If you try to keep up with the 18 year old next to you (my nemesis, Jacob), you're probably going to get hurt. If you listen to the instructors, practice the movements before and/or after the actual workout, and only move up in weight as you're ready, you'll be fine. But the pressure to try to advance too quickly is definitely there.

Whenever I've told people that I've been doing CrossFit I've found that the, much like Notre Dame football, opinions on it mainly sit at opposite ends of the spectrum - people either thing it's the only workout you should do or people thing it's the worst thing you can possibly do. I guess I lean more towards the former. It's definitely not the end-all-be-all. As I said early, if you main focus is cardio, it's probably not the best routine. If you like to workout on your own, at any time, it's probably not going to work for you based on the class-based approach. But if you're looking to stay fit, not get bored, and your time is a premium I definitely recommend checking it out. Most CrossFit affiliates (and they are everywhere) offer 1 or 2 free introductory classes to see if it works for you.

After a year of CrossFit, I certainly feel as physically fit as I have since college. Because there are benchmark workouts that pop up every few months I can also quantitatively gauge my progress. So I know it's working. Maybe I'm not dropping pant sizes like Ted (I still like to eat), but there are definitely exercises and movements I can do now that seemed impossible to me when I started one year ago. For me, right now, it's the ideal workout routine.

Now for some obligatory bragging - I deadlifted 400lbs the other day. Feel free to call me "Muscles".

World Series Champions

I sent a recent email to some that had a couple of AWESOME links to articles about the Reds playoff chances.

• Cincinnati Reds: 5 Moves That Would Push the Reds into October
• MLB Trade Rumors: PlayersCincinnati Could Move to Acquire Trade Deadline Help

So after letting it sink in, I have figured out a way that we can win the World Series this year, and be primed for another run next year. 3 big roster moves is all it takes. These are doable.

1) Trade for Josh Willingham
Just suck it up. We should have signed him as a free agent. He is under contract for 2 years at $7M, with an option in the 3rd year for the same amount. The Twins are awful, and would let him go for prospects. He would instantly slot into LF and hit cleanup. The deal: Trade Bill Bray (inconsistent but MLB ready), JC Sulbaran (high ceiling RHP prospect) and Pedro Villarreal (a low level pitching prospect). The Twins would take it, and we take on about $5.5M in extra salary (less because the season is half over). Supposedly, the Padres are looking to move Carlos Quentin, who is much better than Willingham and a perfect fit for us, but he is a free agent after this year. I'd rather not get a half season rental.

2) Move Chapman to the rotation
I know, it's unlikely this year. However, EVERYTHING you read about the Reds talks about how his talents are WASTED as a closer. I really like Sean Marshall as closer. Stretch out Chapman in middle relief or the minors. Get him ready for the stretch run and playoffs. Can yo imagine a 1-2-3 of Cueto, Latos and Chapman in the playoffs? That would be awesome. As a result, we are now down 2 relievers with Bray traded above. So you promote Donnie Joseph to the bullpen as a replacement lefty.This move costs nothing.

3) Trade for a reliever
Grant Balfour is the guy I target. Move him into the setup role. The A's will deal, and the price seems to be one we could afford: Trade Didi Gregarious (top SS, blocked by Cozart) and Chris Heisey . Ryan LaMarre (speedy OF with little power) would be a backup option if they don't like Heisey. He is due $4M (which will be less) this year and under contract for next year at $4.5M.

So we have added Willingham, Joseph and Balfour, while losing Bray and Heisey. We will have to let go of another reliever, and eventually move a starter into the bullpen - I vote for Bailey. Here's our revised batting order and rotation:

2B Phillips
SS Cozart
1B Votto
LF Willingham
RF Bruce
C Hanigan
3B Frazier
CF Stubbs
Pitcher spot

Cueto
Latos
Chapman
Arroyo
Leake

Setup Balfour
Closer Marshall

With those moves, our lineup and starting rotation would be ABSOLUTELY SICK! I think we are able to challenge the big boys in the AL West, and the pitching in the NL West and East. We are also locked in for this year and next, and add less than $10M to the payroll. I think we can make that up with back to back World Series visits!!!

*Spoiler Alert* - Prometheus Species Origin

I Am Done With The Reds

The Reds are in 1st place, 7 games over .500 - and I'm done with them. I refuse to get my heart ripped out this season. As the team is currently constructed, we cannot win the division.

I took the girls to the game today and watched Chapman blow yet another save opportunity. When are the Reds going to realize that Chapman is a starting pitcher. He is not a closer!!! I don't care how fast you throw it. If you throw 100 mph fastball after 100 mph fastball, major league hitters are going to hit it. As a closer, Chapman has all but abandoned his slider, and rarely throws any off-speed stuff. He can offer this team so much more.

He has now blown 2 straight saves, and blown 4 of his last 7 opportunities. Even worse, the Reds are so worried about him that they rarely even use him. Before today, the last time he pitched was Tuesday. Not really adding much to the team there.

The Reds need to put Marshall back into the closer role. He blew 1 game and was yanked. He is so much better suited to close. They need to stretch out Chapman and make him a starter for the late season and maybe playoffs. They also need a bat. I don't even care. Either a true leadoff man or a real cleanup hitter.

Without that, we lose this season - again. I refuse to attend another game or watch on TV until they make some changes.

We Came From Them. They Will Come For Us.

The following post is spoiler free!!!

Above is the free poster I got from attending the midnight opening show for Prometheus last Thursday night in IMAX 3D. After walking out of the movie, my 1st thought was, "Damn, it's 2:30am and I have to be at work in 4 and a half hours!" My 2nd thought was, "Holy hell, that was the most unbelievably good-looking film I have ever seen," (from a special effects standpoint). Just beautiful to look at. My 3rd thought was, "What the hell just happened?"

Without giving any spoilers, I told Dad that I was giving the film a rating of "I" for incomplete, fully expecting a sequel (or two).

5 days after seeing it, my head is now reeling. I am forced to reevaluate my original impression, and I find myself being sucked in further to Ridley Scott's crazy world. On further review, I am upgrading my rating to an "A-" without even seeing it again.

Tom Rench emailed me a link to a rather in depth discussion (DO NOT READ UNTIL VIEWING PROMETHEUS) of the film that points out the finer points of the movie. After reading that, I clearly see that the "finer points" weren't so fine, and that Ridley has a clear message in his film. I won't go so far as to agree with everything this guy says, but his argument is rock solid and supported by quotes from Ridley himself. The 1st thing you should do after watching Prometheus is read the above link. The next thing you should do is go see it again, which I will be doing next week.

If that isn't enough, there is a bonus clip at the end of the movie credits that I have embedded above. Don't worry, it has nothing to do with the plot and can be safely viewed. Ridley Scott is not even close to subtle in trying to show us that this is HIS very own sci-fi epic... Know any other movies that use themes from Nietzsche? Maybe one that has a classic score using a certain piece by the same name????

Let's go even further down the rabbit hole... You are probably aware there was a viral marketing campaign that led up to Prometheus. There is now a new website associated with the movie:

http://www.whatis101112.com/

Not much else there yet, but there are some REALLY COOL things if you click the Weyland logo at the top and explore the Weyland Industries website. However, it is clear that Ridley still has some tricks up his sleeve. Clearly, something is significant about 10-11-12. It is the fictional date of Weyland Industries being incorporated, but it's more than coincidence that the date is this year in reality.

I have no idea where this is going, but it's starting to really suck me in. I'm thinking that date could be anything from the Blu-ray release date, to a new website, to a major announcement about a sequel.

You don't think Ridley pulled the ULTIMATE fast one and did a LOTR style double shoot without letting us know do you?

Comments are NOT spoiler free below! Colin let the cat out of the bag!

Game of Thrones

I'm 99% sure Kevin has read them, but is anyone else into the HBO series Game of Thrones? The 2nd season finale was Sunday, and let me just say... WOW!

If you guys aren't watching this, you are missing perhaps the greatest spectacle on TV. This is like an Oscar-caliber movie that just goes on and on every week. The 1st season starts out strong, but just builds bigger and better every week. The final scene of season one is one of the most jawdropping, iconic scenes in TV history. Season two remarkably ups the ante.

Granted, this is a grandiose plot, with MANY characters and locations. However, HBO has done a good job helping viewers keep it all straight. They even have some good online interactive content to help novice viewers. I have made it a habit to read an episode summary each week to make sure I understand the names and places, and any subtle plot points I may have missed.

If you haven't watched this, download, rent or Netflix the series immediately! It is so good, I may even buy the season blu-rays. My only problem is waiting for the next season. I may break down and read the book series, even though it will spoil the surprises that the series has thrown me early and often so far.

Yeeeaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!

Ticket Purchase Confirmed...

3D is cool, but not essential. However, any chance to see a movie in actual IMAX, is totally worth it.

Do Umpires Hate Jay Bruce?

Last night the Reds played the Braves in a nationally televised game on ESPN. They won, woo-hoo. However, I noticed something that has been bothering me for quite some time; the number of questionable called strikes against Jay Bruce. Jay Bruce has always been a very streaky hitter. When he is in the zone he can hit like no other player in the game. However, when he is in a slump he becomes very ineffective and his at-bats are difficult to watch. Yet no matter how Bruce is playing I always noticed that the umpires give him very little respect in terms of called strikes against him. For some reason Jay Bruce seemingly has the largest strike zone of any player in baseball. If some of the questionable called strikes against Jay Bruce were called balls, as they should have been, he would find himself in many more favorable hitting situations. This is obvious when you think about whether a MLB hitter would rather be in the batter’s box with 2 balls and 0 strikes versus 0 balls and 2 strikes. It seems more often than not, Jay Bruce falls behind in the count due to a questionable called strike and is forced to protect the plate as opposed to attacking the pitcher. More often than not this leads to Bruce swinging and missing at a breaking ball low and away. After thinking about this, I wondered if there was a way to actually prove it. After a 4-second google search I hit a home-run. I found a website (http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/) that provides sortable, historical pitch/FX data for hitters and pitchers. Using this tool you can see in chart form the called strikes for any MLB hitter. So let’s go to the charts:

The chart above shows pitches taken by Jay Bruce for the year. Just look at how many obvious balls were actually called strikes (by my count I see approximately 25 balls that were called strikes). It becomes clear after looking at this chart that the book on Jay Bruce is to throw low and away and hope he swings at it, and if he doesn’t swing hope the umpire calls the pitch a strike anyway, which he usually does. The problem for Jay Bruce, as well as Reds fans, is that umpires are consistently calling obvious balls thrown low and away to Bruce as strikes. Thus, Jay Bruce has no choice but to swing at those pitches because he knows that MLB umpires are probably going to call those balls as strikes. If he doesn’t swing, then he will find himself hearing the umpire yell strike. If these pitches were appropriately called as balls just think how many hitter’s counts (more balls than strikes) Jay Bruce would face, and how much better of a hitter he could be. Maybe this could even help make him a more consistent player.

For the sake of comparison let’s look at an MLB player who has more of a track record in the league who many would suspect gets more respect from umpires. The chart above shows pitches taken by Derek Jeter for the year. Jeter does have some low balls called as strikes, but he doesn’t have nearly the number of called strikes that were actually balls as Jay Bruce did (by my count I see 15 balls that were called strikes).

There are obvious limitations to this comparison: Jeter is right handed, he plays in the AL, and he bats at a different spot in the order. However, the results are still obvious, Jay Bruce finds himself in more pitcher’s counts (more strikes than balls) because umpires call obvious pitches that are low and away balls as strikes against him. Just look at that ridiculous called strike against Bruce that looks to be about 12 inches below the strike zone!

If Jay Bruce was given a fair shake when he steps in the batter’s box by umpires not calling strikes on obvious balls thrown low and out of the strike zone there is no telling how great of a hitter he could be!

Musical Chairs

It is now inevitable. The big conferences in college football have started the final assault, and college athletics will be changed forever - very soon. I knew this was coming, but I didn't realize how fast things were moving. Last week, I would have thought things were just about settled for a while, pending the new BCS structure. Today, I realize that the lull was an illusion.

The SEC and Big 12 recently announced  a new Bowl partnership to create a matchup of the respective conference champions, similar to what the Big Ten and Pac 12 have with the Rose Bowl.  This has several immediate, far reaching implications.

• The BCS will soon become a 4 team playoff.
• The conferences are now bypassing even the Bowls, and forming their OWN Bowl games.
• We are quickly moving to the model of 4 "super-conferences" of 16 teams.
• Clearly, the Big East, ACC and all other non-BCS conferences are on the outside looking in.
• Notre Dame will have to decide what they want to do with our football program - soon.
• The NCAA is irrelevant as an organization.

I liken this to a gigantic game of musical chairs, and that the music is only speeding up. All the D1 football schools are dancing around the chairs. When the music stops, there will be 4 major conferences, and everyone else will be totally out of luck. I also think that will likely be the endgame, at least in our lifetimes. 64 teams will hold all the cards. If ND is not in a conference at this point, there will be no room left for us, and we will have no mojo to maintain a competitive football team. We become Navy.


Look, since the BCS began in 1998, ND has been in 3 games. That's 3 out of 14 years. In a 4 team playoff format, we would have qualified ZERO times in those previous years. No matter what the new BCS format is, ND will be assuredly LESS LIKELY to get a spot, given the fewer teams involved. What options does that leave us? All the Bowls are likely scrambling AT THIS VERY MOMENT to secure conference affiliations. The dominoes are falling. I hate it, but I think it is truly, finally, for real, the moment that we need to make a choice. If we don't act now, the choice will be made for us.