Being as how I had work in the morning, I had to go to bed before the MLB All-Star game concluded. But who could expect to stay up for the whole 4 hours and 50 minutes that it took to finish? In 15 innings the American League defeated the National League 4-3, and while that is exciting in itself...the game lost it's luster past the bottom of the 10th inning once Mariano Rivera was out and the AL failed to capitalize on a bases loaded, game tied, situation. Going 2 for 12 with RISP will rarely get you a win. (Just look at how the Yankees are doing this season...)

You probably won’t be shocked to learn of Mike Mussina’s contempt for the always-injured Carl Pavano, but you’ll laugh nonetheless. When Mussina was negotiating a new contract with the Yankees in October 2006, Brian Cashman offered him a two-year, $18-million package.

“Brian, you’re not paying me less than you’re paying Carl Pavano,” Mussina responded. “Don’t insult me.” Mussina wound up re-signing for two years and $23 million.

http://scottproctorsarm.blogspot.com/2008/06/mussina-unplugged.html

The 10 aspects of overall fitness

In NO particular order (SOME exercises used to address them included)

Power - is related to strength in that it is measured in terms of force over time. It is the rate at which work is performed.
Exercises: Snatch, Clean, Jerk

Strength - the ability to generate or apply force.
Exercises: Bench, Squat, Deadlift, Shoulder Press

Dallas. What is there to say? It certainly isn't Manhattan (but then again nothing compares to the crowded mess that is New York City.) My arrival here, and my short time spent here in Dallas, has been...interesting to say the least.

On a bright note, I got through security at Newark Liberty International Airport. Even after being "selected for additional screening" which turned out to be standard practice for all last-minute bookings. But you're saying to yourself...wait, he didn't book his flight last minute.

The most intelligent bit of dialogue to come out of the Comedy Central cartoon South Park...

"You know, I learned something today. We thought we could make money on the internet, but while the internet is new and exciting for creative people, it hasn't matured as a distribution mechanism to the extent that one should trade real and immediate opportunities for income for the promise of future online revenue. It'll be a few years before digital distribution can be monetized to the extent that necessitates content producers to fore go their fair value in more traditional media."

I'm a Yankee fan, it's quite obvious, and I don't hide that fact. But on this night, the 2008 MLB season has opened in the United States. (Boston/Oakland in Japan doesn't count.)

ESPN is broadcasting the Washington Nationals vs the Atlanta Braves, a matchup of NL East teams. This is the inaugural game of the new Nationals Stadium in Washington, D.C. and they had President George W. Bush throw out the first ceremonial pitch.

There's just one week left until the final Opening Day of Major League Baseball at Yankee Stadium.

2008 is the final year of the old stadium, next year they will begin play at the new stadium across the street.

It is the end of an era, and though some may argue that Yankee Stadium lost it's mystique when George M. Steinbrenner renovated it in the 70's, it is hard to argue that Yankee Stadium is not a baseball landmark.

Where the chain breaks

Most people do not like to expose their weaknesses. Instead, they work around them. This is the worst thing that can be done. If there is a weakness, you must attack it. This should be done progressively and intelligently.

Everyone has heard the expression "The chain is only as strong as its weakest link". This is very true. Same goes for people. If you have great strength, but it is machine assisted, or you wear hand wraps or anything like that, it is degraded to uselessness.

Many people marvel at the fact that I can do more than 5 pull-ups. Well it isn't like I started out like this, you've got to start out somewhere.

For those of you who want to get into lifting, but don't know where to begin, check out Starting Strength

It's the most highly reviewed book for learning how to increase your strength from a beginner's standpoint, and comes very highly recommended from the CrossFit community.

It frustrates me sometimes, when people I know give me all sorts of excuses for not training or "working out". If you ask a lot of people, one of the most common excuses they have for not training is that they don't have access to a gym or they simply don't have enough time.

Well I've got news for you people: there are a ton of workouts you can do to increase both strength and overall fitness right in the comfort of you home (or yard) - and for the most part these workouts don't take a lot of time.