NOVEMBER 30 UPDATE
COMMITMENTS
Melissa Wright, Pitcher, CF Intruders Gold signed with
Houston Baptist University
Sarah Parich, 2nd, CF Intruders Gold, signed with Sam Houston State
University
Washington Sidewinder 18 Gold
Jessica Rosencrants - Southeast Missouri State
Amanda Shiflet - Western Washington University
Marnie Koziol - University of Washington
Katy Mills - Rider University
Mollie Greenup - Seattle University
Rachael Sofie - Marshall University
STRESS-RELATED AGING
Noted with interest that story on the news about a study which indicates that stress accelerates the aging process. I was thinking aloud about weaving that into a story. However, a lady friend told me that, despite the stresses of wars, revolutions, State Dept politics, an angry marriage, bad umpires, cancer and other diseases, etc., she does not think I look 69. On the other hand, she reminded me that I am 69 and my body is shot, for all those same reasons. But, you other guys are welcome to use it.
THE SPORTS ILLUSTRATED AWARD
I watched the vote tallies; everyone in Red Sox "nation" must have voted. The comments by sportswriters from around the country indicated the Red Sox and Lance Armstrong were strong from the start, with minor support for Team USA. Coming so close on the heels of the USA soccer team’s previous selection may have been a factor -- the soccer team won in the USA with millions watching on TV, which were probably factors in their selection. The Olympic Softball team would have gotten my vote – without hesitation.
JUNIOR WORLD TEAM
A reader asks when USA Softball will hold Junior World tryouts. SPY’s answer.
A true Junior National team is only formed every four years, in advance of the ISF Junior World Competition. The ISF competition always comes one year before the Olympics. A junior team, under ISF rules, is comprised of players 19 and younger. Typically, given Junior World will be played in 2007, one can expect USA Softball to hold tryouts in late 2006 or early 2007 -- by invitation only. Some players in this age group could be chosen for the USA national team in 2005 but they would be a minority. However, ISF and USA Softball were very pleased with ISF's inaugural World University games, just completed in Plant City. These games will be renewed, and afford an excellent opportunity to showcase college players against international competition.
NOTE: ASA is expected to issue a press release Wednesday naming the new Women’s National Team Selection Committee for this quadrennium. USA Softball will announce December 9 the names of the players being invited to the January national team training camp. USA Softball has already said that the members of the Olympic team, including alternates, and the players on the Elite team which played the World University games, are being invited. (SPY will publish the list, left-handed.)
CORRECTION
The SPY reference should have been to Indiana University, not University of Indiana.
SPY PHOTOS
My apologies for the size of the photos in the safari story, The previous edition of Front Page had a “thumbnail” key which reduced when publishing; I am still reading the book for the 2004 edition. (PS: in response to a reader’s question about that diamond-print shirt, which I bought from a safari outfitter on Kiamathi Street in Nairobi: came home one day after I married to find two bags headed for Goodwill; learned after the pickup they were my old safari outfits!)
THE MEANING OF SERVICE
(CONTRIBUTED BY Arthur Yin)
At one time in
my life, I thought I had a handle on the meaning of the word "service". "The
act of doing things for other people." Then I learned these terms:
Internal Revenue Service
Postal Service
Telephone Service
Police Service
Civil Service
City/County Public Service
Customer Service
Service Stations
And I became confused about the word "service". This is not what I thought
"service" meant.
Then, today, I overheard two farmers talking and one said he had hired a bull to
"service" a few of his cows. BAM! It all came into perspective. Now I
understand what all those "service" agencies are doing to us.
end