Ask USSM: How to fill the void?
DMZ · November 14, 2006 at 3:02 pm · Filed Under Off-topic ranting
What am I supposed to do with my free time?
No, really. The off-season kills me. I’ve tried to follow football, it just doesn’t take, and besides, part of what I miss is the daily nature of baseball. I can’t bike in this weather.. besides wacky sci-fi writing, what else is there? How do you get through this dead period and retain your sanity?
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Well, I’m a basketball fan, so that’s a lot of it for me. Other than that (and my wife and kids), I play adventure games (some of which qualify as pretty good sci-fi).
Normally I just continue on refreshing like I always do. Lately, I’ve begun an extensive retooling of my blog, and I would go skiing, except for the LACK OF SNOW. I spend my time thinking about purchasing cars for US$100.
You should write a book, or something crazy like that.
Or buy baseball video games and play those. That’s always fun.
Or take a cross-country road trip while you’re still unemployed.
Take up painting
….heh…
Well…..I let TRW take over my life again…
Like: 1) planning for the annual Thanksgiving family get together. There isn’t ONE single other family member who wants to reunion anywhere else but at our house. That’s a good thing, I suppose, and I’m grateful that we all pitch in to make it a good Thanksgiving meal and holiday.
2) same for planning for Christmas, another big feed and get together and on top of that, gift exchange (haven’t bought one thing yet).
3) around this time of year our exorbitant property tax is due, and if we pay the whole amount, we get a 5% discount. So…we have THAT occupying our minds.
3) we’ve already dropped down some bucks on a cruise after New Year’s Day, so I’ve accounted for everything from a week from now to January 15th.
See, only a month more ’til pitcher and catchers report!!
You could be an alcoholic so you don’t even know you’re missing anything.
Seriously though, how about adult education classes at a community college? Volunteer with a local organization where you can meet some women.
Woodworking? Restoring vintage bicycles? Endlessly tinker with Adsense? Cross-country ski? Advise Corco on his love life?
(I never understand people who can’t find anything to do, there’s so much out there to explore.)
um. listen to the Hot Stove League (TM) on KOMO while fruitlessly surfing the internet in search of Mariner rumors not containing the phrase “Jason Schmidt”?
at some point this winter I will have to re-watch various improbable but entertaining baseball movies …
Volunteer with a local organization where you can meet some women.
I’m guessing Mrs. Derek vetoes that one.
In rough order of suggestions-
NBA? Hmm. I may have to check that out.
I’m married, which rules out “meet women” activities. And “on the road” type things.
And I can find things to do, it’s just that during the off-season, there’s this gap where I used to enjoy sitting down to watch a game every night, even if I only could find a little time for it.
Oh, and I have some book projects a-simmering. Secret, possibly exciting book projects.
used to enjoy sitting down to watch a game every night
that’s the worst part, and you really can’t fill it with anything else.
#5– I just have to play the exciting annual game of “Watch That Pass”, attempting to determine the odds of Snoqualmie’s closing while I’m on the road with an 87-year-old, en route to a holiday dinner…
Premier League football. Try it with the round ball. I recommend following Tottenham Hotspur if you like have your heart repeatedly ground into the mud.
Or you could sit there in an alcoholic stupor and try to learn Richard Burton soliloquies by heart. I recommend Look Back In Anger for maximum drama.
The alcoholic stupor part works pretty well on its own, but may interfere with your swimsuit modeling plans come next spring and summer, as does one of my other favorite pastimes, eating massive quantities of bacon and fried potatoes.
You can also go to Golden Gardens or Alki and sit on a bench overlooking the sea and weep softly as you slowly soak up the rain.
If you’re going to choose basketball, I’d go for college ball over the NBA.
1. It ends about when baseball’s starting.
2. It’s a less physical game, and the stamp of the coaches is much more pronounced, so you get to watch conflicts of philosophy.
3. If you get serious about it, there are games every day, and after a while you really know the leagues and the teams, so you can even find an interesting game almost every day.
4. It’s much more rewarding if you live in Seattle, with UW being a genuine annual contender, if not quite a powerhouse, while the Sonics will continue to be interesting more as a soap opera than a basketball team as long as Wally Walker is running the show.
Serious drawback: Dick Vitale.
Oh, and I have some book projects a-simmering. Secret, possibly exciting book projects.
um, helping Washington Square Press with their exciting new children’s SciFi book series? Forethcoming titles include:
Doyle, Invisible Boy
Doyle, Time Traveler
Doyle and the Anti-Gravity Paint
Doyle and the Homework Machine
Doyle and the Weather Machine
Doyle and the Heat Ray
Doyle and the Automatic House
Doyle and the Smallifying Machine
Doyle, Man of Bronze
Oh yeah, watching you tube videos is a great way to blow a few hours
Wally Walker got fired about 7-14 days ago.
But yeah, I’m a Sonics season ticket holder, and it *is* a really bad soap opera.
Ultimate Baseball online. I am seriously addicted to this game.
Start drinking cappucinos…
My god, the things I miss in New York. That is the best sports news I’m likely to get all season.
Premier League football. Try it with the round ball. I recommend following Tottenham Hotspur if you like have your heart repeatedly ground into the mud.
Why do that when there’s Reading’s middling debut in the Premiership to get excited about?
I usually switch to college football in September or so. With CU 2-9 this year, it’s been a bit like following the M’s of recent years.
I’m just not into the NBA in the post-Jordan years. The NHL bit it for me after the first strike, then moving out here where a game requires a border crossing.
And you could have done NaNoWriMo this month. I ended up not doing it due to time constraints, but you have plenty of time to catch up….
I recommend following Tottenham Hotspur if you like have your heart repeatedly ground into the mud.
Friends don’t let friends be Spurs fans. They wore brown uniforms this weekend. ‘Nuff said.
Second the Premier League, but you already follow one team that can’t win games, so go to the red half of North London and follow Arsenal. The choice is clear, really – get your heart ground into the mud at Reading in November, or, uh, get your heart broken in the Champions League final in May.
The Premiership season runs from August till May, so you’ll be tided over until spring training no problem. Games are anytime from Thursday to Monday, they all used to be on Saturdays at 3PM UK time until TV got hold of them. And they’re on midday, good for the alternately-or-unemployed.
Don’t believe the typical US line. Soccer is a really fun game to watch, when it’s played at that level – the MLS is really a poor substitute.
Sorry about the meeting women idea – very, very bad idea. Apologies to Mrs. DMZ. I still think community involvement in some capacity would be best – helping kids after school at a Boys/Girls Club type place or cleaning up a local playground/park/beach. Make the world a better place!
I second the notion of becoming a UW basketball fan, they’ve looked great so far this year, and play an incredibly entertaining style to watch.
BASEBALL MOGUL 2007
Easily the best simulation I’ve ever played. That game is as addictive as crack and way cheaper.
Other than that, I’d say sort out the music on your hard drive, if you have any.
Take up a martial art, or fencing.
26- I screwed it up. http://www.sportsmogul.com
Well since you DO have a Mrs. DMZ, you could, you know, do what at least used to be a traditional thing for married people to do and, well, procreate.
It’s amazing what a kid can do for your soul. And for your free time
Oooh, oooh, get a part time job as a X-mas temp in the mall. That’s always fun and exciting.
“People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.” — Rogers Hornsby
well, speaking of Doyle, I was going to suggest watching footie on Fox Sports World (singlets & stubbies!) but I see they’ve decided to become the Fox Soccer Channel. Feh.
Start an Angels blog.
well my wife has a few suggestions for things you could do…
1. the dishes
2. the laundry
3. the vacuuming
4. the cooking
5. take care of the kids
6. take out the garbage
7. feed the dog and cat
ohhhhh wait those are things she wants ME to do……
Made my plans to get to spring training. I may even buy that cheaters guide to baseball book for some good reading.
Terry, isn’t that the standard Honey-do list? Maybe add:
8. massage the feet
9. various home repair projects
Dream of Rey Ordonez.
I know it’s practically heresy around here, but I love the NBA. A lot of people seem to be down on the NBA the past few years, which is a shame. There’s a wealth of great young talent not seen in years (Besides just LeBron and Wade–ever seen Dwight Howard play?) and teams are shifting to more exciting, up-tempo offenses by the barrelful after a few key rule changes these past few years. The NBA certainly has its share of problems, but I don’t understand how people can seriously dismiss it as a league of overpaid thugs and ballhogs so quickly. But it’s not for everyone, just like football and (gasp!) baseball.
Anyone read The Stranger article by Sherman Alexie this week on the state of the Sonics in Seattle? Quite a few Steve Kelley one sentence paragraphs, but otherwise a great read.
Get a bike. I got a new road bike in September and it’s completely changed my life- lost 15 pounds since then and feel better than I ever have. Depending on how much you like riding in the rain that can burn at least 5-10 hours a week during the off season (plus most obsessive USS Mariner fans will also likely become obsessive bike gear whores). I might do STP this year but I have no idea how to train for that sort of thing. Any suggestions?
How do you get through this dead period and retain your sanity?
I don’t?
Oh, the NBA is kinda fun too if you can get into the style and personalities of the league.
I also like to do futile web searches for the next great Japanese import.
Buy the Pittsburgh Penguins.
I have a hard time biking in this weather, even though I own the greatest bike evah (!!!11!!). I may just have to bite the bullet and buy some better foul-weather gear, though, because not getting on the road is killing me.
or the Arizona Cardinals, but I doubt you would maintain sanity.
The Arizona Cardinals will never be sold, as the Bidwill family is sempiternal.
Go to culinary school. Wait, that’s been done already…
Woops, I meant play for the Cardinals. I think thats a realisitc goal for anyone.
Buy land and take up cattle farming.
Become a high school basketball coach.
Oh, Jesus. I know. I saw them. It was…crushing. I’m surprised they didn’t lose eight-nil. Never again. Never, ever, ever again. But I’d rather eat giant handfuls of decomposing leaves than root for Arsenal. Sorry. The English league is grat fun, though, and by far the most entertaining top league to watch, unlike, say, Italy’s Serie A, which is like watching chess-by-mail, only with bought-off players and refs.
This is in fact the worst weather to bike in, because wet leaves are more deadly and sneakier than black ice. Wait until the roads are clear, and get yourself some booties, and it’s not that bad.
You could work on your spy/ninja skills, sneak into the air ducts above Bavasi’s office, plant a bug on his phone and office, tap into his cell line via computer, and have the ultimate insider blog.
Oh, Jesus. I know. I saw them. It was…crushing. I’m surprised they didn’t lose eight-nil. Never again. Never, ever, ever again.
Where I was just happy that Reading finally got off the schneid by beating up on a London team.
It hasn’t been the best season so far for Reading, what with the poundings by Arsenal and Liverpool (twice). But at least they beat the Spurs.
The Spurs have way too much talent to play as poorly as they have this year. Teams to absolutely not root for: Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal, Liverpool.
The Spurs have a good balance of futility and ability. It’s sort of like rooting for San Diego or Houston. Middle of the road and never win the big one.
However I 3rd the EPL as a great way to get through the winter doldrums. At least 3-5 games a week on FSC. Get a DVR, record then all and go to town.
You could spend three hours each day trying to figure out how Mark DeRosa got a three-year, eight-figure contract. By February, you just might understand. Then again, maybe not.
I used to be against soccer. When I was younger, I was even prone to calling it a “Communist sport” for unknown reasons, even to me. Then I started to randomly watch some EPL games and, after watching a couple Arsenal games, I was hooked. The season is almost year long, there are a number of elite teams, a ton of tournaments, a lot of player movement, and its an exciting game once you get to know it. No timeouts. Constant action. Your local pub should have all the games on sattelite. Seriously, I love the NBA, I’m a fanatic, but soccer might be better.
You could spend the time figuring different ways to spend the 51.1 million the Red Sox used as the DM posting fee.
I fourth the EPL, especially with a DVR. I enjoy watching #54′s big four, they are televised more often so I get to know the players a little, and they play high quality soccer.
For cycling I’ve thought about cyclocross but haven’t taken that plunge yet. When I commuted, biking in the rain was easy and I got to where I enjoyed it once I had the right gear. Now that I’m not commuting, it is way too easy to think of reasons not go for a spin.
Another suggestion that might work for you is to take up an instrument, guitar or something. That is a great way to burn rainy winter evenings away.
You could travel to the East Coast and visit Dave, biking through Coastal North Carolina (it was in 70′s today).
Or you could sit inside and write various letters to Chevy explaining your distaste for the over use of the Mellencamp song.
The Spurs play in the NBA. The English League team is Spurs, or Tottenham, or Tottenham Hotspur, but never ever ever “the Spurs”.
I’m not allowed to hate Liverpool, as my wife is a longtime fan (stood on the Kop back in the 80s). But I will root against them when the opportunity arises. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man Utd are beyond the pale, though: unadulterated evil.
Reading have little to complain about, being mid-table in their first season up in the Premier. Very enjoyable to see, as is the sight of former no-hopers Portsmouth doing well under Harry Redknapp.
If you get married and have kids, you don’t have to worry about free time anymore
But I’d rather eat giant handfuls of decomposing leaves than root for Arsenal. Sorry.
Strangely enough, the aftermath of eating handfuls of decomposing leaves is where Spurs got the idea for that brown uniform color scheme.
Arsenal may or may not be evil, but watching Thierry Henry when he’s at top gear is one of the privileges of having eyeballs.
Amen. Kids make it that you can’t just jump on your bike for a ride without getting a babysitter. Absolute zero personal time. When you have it, it’s a luxury.
How to train for the STP? They used to have meetings at REI (sponsored by REI or the Cascasde Bicycle Club, I guess) teaching you how to train. Heck, they probably have the info online now.
DMZ, do some home improvements. Adds value to your place without getting taxed on it, and score points with the wife. Or do anything you can that could get in the way of baseball watching/blogging/etc. once the season starts.*
*However, I don’t practice what I preach. One of these days, perhaps I’ll actually do my taxes by February instead of filing an extension and waiting until the playoffs are on.
38. Anyone read The Stranger article by Sherman Alexie this week on the state of the Sonics in Seattle? Quite a few Steve Kelley one sentence paragraphs, but otherwise a great read.
I usually dislike those sorts of random, stream of consciousness essays, but Alexie’s was a gem. There’s a lot more good baseball writing than good basketball writing, but his essay, which rambled over topics from Starbucks to the Sonics to basketball to fathers and sons, evens things up a bit. I hadn’t known that Alexie is a Sonics fan! The essay also gives a little insight into where he was coming from in his screenplay for “Smoke Signals”, the very fine independent film from several years ago.
BTW the column in The Stranger is here.
Derek, I think you should start a baseball book club.
Farm Animals?
Were you not able to schedule the crunch time for finishing the book to happen now rather than before the season ended? Maybe for the next super-secret book project you could run that past your editor. Doesn’t help you now…
Oh, but what about pulling a _High Fidelity_ and organizing your album collection according to your favorite baseball moments. Paging John Cusack…
Re #46: . . . though sodden toward sundown.
There’s also a lot more awful baseball writing (including some of the writing that’s often praised). There’s a lot more baseball writing, period. At least basketball writing rarely gets inflated with imbecilic pomposity the way that baseball writing is so prone to.
I’m all for the EPL, but finding games that matter on US TV isn’t the easiest.
However, if you like I’d let you help me in my job hunt, since you don’t seem so active in your own. I’m looking for a sports gig at either a radio or tv station. Lemme know what you come up with.
I was a gamer before I was a baseball fan, so I actually had to come to grips with the extent to which baseball cut into my gaming time in the summer.
In the winter, I also spend a lot of time arguing with people on the internet. My favourite topics are language theory and communism.
Up the Arse! I actually do support Arsenal. It was Dennis Bergkamp that first got me hooked.
And, as a Canadian, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out…
There’s always HOCKEY. You could learn Swedish and become a Canucks fan.
http://freedarko.blogspot.com/
Contrasting this with USSmariner will explain why the NBA has an appeal that is somehow captivating while being anathema to all that is decent about baseball.
The Spurs play in the NBA. The English League team is Spurs, or Tottenham, or Tottenham Hotspur, but never ever ever “the Spursâ€.
I’ll call them “the Spurs” until someone convinces British newsreaders and sports commentators that American teams have “the” in front of them. It is not “St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series defeating Detroit Tigers,” just as it is not “The Reading Royals beat the Arsenal 2-1.”
If you haven’t already, read the Neal Stephenson trilogy that starts with Quicksilver. Excellent to inspired writing, and it should take you most of the winter. Not books to be skimmed.
Granted I’m biased- I was a Seahawks fan a decade before I became an M’s fan- but its a shame you (DMZ) can’t seem to get into football. The Seahawks have played so many close, exciting, meaningful games the last 4 years. I guess if you can’t get into the Seahawks now, you never could. But anyway, the Seahawks, UW basketball, and geeky stuff like games and anime tend to help me bridge the offseason gap.
Oh and YTMND.com is good for silly-geeky fun when bored too.
Read Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun. The first time through the four books will go down easy. If you’re like me, you’ll enjoy it, marvel at it, think it’s one of the best things you’ve ever read. But something will tug at you…. You’ll reread it. You’ll be astonished at what you didn’t see the first time.
I’m still rereading it today.
How about designing and implementing a Legovision ™ feature for USSM to be used in next year’s game threads?
Wow, that bit by Alexie makes me want read more of his stuff…have you read his baseball themed short story?
And when is BCC going to do their “Baseball and American History” Class again?
Oh and Derek, you could fill one night a week at least by forming a Writers Group. That would be cool.
Learn to run lathes and mills. Or restore motorcycles — there’s something you can do in the living room. If your wife won’t let you, make her learn chess.
70. “There’s a lot more good baseball writing than good basketball writing”
There’s also a lot more awful baseball writing (including some of the writing that’s often praised). There’s a lot more baseball writing, period. At least basketball writing rarely gets inflated with imbecilic pomposity the way that baseball writing is so prone to.
Oh I agree 100% with both of your points: there is “more baseball writing, period”, and it is often “inflated with imbecilic pomposity”. Of the latter, my pet peeve is writers who blather about how wonderful baseball is because the foul lines extend to infinity; second place pet peeve is probably about how Platonically perfect the 90 foot distance between bases is.
But as with everything else, I try to bypass the junk and seek the gems. And there are more gems in baseball than in basketball (truthfully, I much prefer basketball as a sport to follow, but in terms of reading, I do more baseball reading and buy more baseball books than basketball books).
To fill the void, you should do a role-reversal of what I do. I am a football [soccer] fan who follows baseball during our offseason – so why not consider following English football?
I am a Manchester City fan, they are a team similar to the Mariners in quality and basic disillusionment. I would be honoured if my Mariner friends would start to learn and follow my team in the same way I have taken to theirs.
http://www.mcfc.co.uk
Support Fulham!
We have several of your World Cup… heroes.
The beloved Brian McBride, who never stops running.
Carlos Bocanegra, who plays in midfield these days. And does his best at all times.
And maybe Clint Dempsey in January.
What’s not to like? A beautiful ground right by the Thames, with a 100 year old stand with old-style cramped wooden seats.
Here’s a video clip of some of our lads being affable:
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2006/November/LGPodcastVideos.aspx
There, easy to like them. And I’m running a Fulham blog on WordPress, click on the title for that.
cheers
You may have McBride … but we have Claudio Reyner! And DeMarcus Beasley! It is your patriotic duty to become Man City fans, ‘o great people of Washington state!