James中

it’s the hope that kills you. IC, GMU, UMD, #ALLCaps

[James中 @JAugone]

Successfully embarrassed myself on twitter today. My work here is done.

[Randy Sullivan MPT, CSCS @RandySullivanPT]

My middle son, Ryan, was a skinny 9th grader with a weak arm and virtually no bat

62 mph pulldown

His best swings barely cleared the infield

And he was deceptively slow

He tried out the for the JV team at our high school as a second baseman

His older brother had starred at the same school and was now playing in college

To my knowledge, no one had ever been cut from the JV team

Ryan was cut from the JV team

That night we watched Rudy

My idea

I expected a pity party

Instead, he looks at me and says:

“Dad… we screwed up the position. You know how to train pitchers. Next year I’m not trying out for JV. I’m MAKING VARSITY… as a pitcher.”

I did a double take

Swallowed hard

“Sure, Ry. But that means you work. Every. Single. Day.”

I figured it would last a week

It lasted a year

He lived at The ARMory

Every night

Like a man possessed

He gained 20 pounds (up to 145)

Fastball to 75

Added a changeup

And showed a crazy, unanticipated knack for living in the strike zone

He tried out for Varsity as a pitcher

He made the team

And never played

All season: clean pants, empty stat line

Last game of the year, bases loaded, 2 outs

He finally gets in… to pinch run at first

One pitch

Routine ground ball

Force out at second

Season over

Next year, his velo is up to 82

The staff is loaded

Three weeks left in the season… still hasn’t thrown a pitch

Then comes the promise

Soft opponent on the schedule

Coach says, “Ryan’s starting.”

I clear my calendar

4 pm, my phone rings

“Hey bud, you ready? You nervous?”

“I’m excited… but I’m not nervous.”

Pause

“Because I’m not pitching. Rex is pitching.”

My heart sinks

Rex?

We don’t have a Rex

I’m running through the roster in my head

“Who the heck is Rex?”

“Dad, you’re gonna love him.
Rex is 6’8” and throws 96.”

Ryan is 5’9” and tops at 82

Suddenly, Rex sounds like a better option

I get to the field right as the anthem ends

There’s no 6’8” dude

Just my 5’9” son, grinning

Ryan had invented an alter ego

That night, Rex took the ball

Same 82 mph fastball

Completely different presence

Rex walked like an ace

Breathed like an ace

Stared in like an ace

Attacked the zone like an ace

He refused to throw a ball

Groundout. Pop up. Groundout. Weak fly.
Over and over.

By the 5th inning it was 12–0

He had given up 1 hit

He punches out the last hitter

Game over on a mercy rule

The team dog piles him on the mound

Ryan (a.k.a. Rex) had just thrown a one-hit shutout

Same body

Same arm

Same 82 mph

Different identity

Everyone wants a new pitch, a new drill, a new program

Sometimes the unlock is simpler:

You don’t need a new body

You need a new alter ego

In baseball or in life

Name the version of you who attacks the zone

Then let him (or her) take the ball

Find your Rex

[James中 @JAugone]

@DominicDecocco5 @Blutman27 I’d add Nashville to that list. The titans are a dumpster fire and no one cares about them.

[James中 @JAugone]

@SouthwestAir the utter lack of ability to get a hold of a person or rebook a cancelled flight on your app/website is sheer insanity. Thanks for not caring about your customers. After 15 years of flying yall I’m done.

[James中 @JAugone]

@SouthwestAir how can my flight be cancelled and also that I’m rebooked on it? It would also be great if your CSRs answered the phone. Help.

[James中 @JAugone]

@MyGolfSpy @FootJoy I want to like the Pro/SL but they’re just…boring/average looking. They’re super comfy but just kinda meh.

[James中 @JAugone]

@ronnie_jayjay @WrestleMontana The sales are down because three weeks ago the get in price was like $700 not because the creative is stale.

[James中 @JAugone]

@Timmy2Cans He lives!!

[James中 @JAugone]

@LoganPatri62176 @HoosFootball @nickossello Fair but the tradition is there.

[James中 @JAugone]

@Gaelforce80 Wild they scored almost half their total points in that run

[James中 @JAugone]

@LoganPatri62176 @HoosFootball @nickossello Don’t disagree, UVA, UNC, Duke, ‘Cuse are all elite. My point was more that ND won’t suffer if it decides to go to the B10. Osu, Michigan, PSU, UMD, and Hopkins are all top programs.

[James中 @JAugone]

@HoosFootball @nickossello Big ten lacrosse is probably better than ACC at this point.

[James中 @JAugone]

@aimkeyx You are literally the only person with this take. Sit down

[James中 @JAugone]

@LoochyTV @theburntpeanut Pure cinema my guy.

[James中 @JAugone]

@MaacTheft @DalyDoseOfHoops Those venues look so cool zoomed out like that. I’d have loved to have gone to a game at the silver dome.

[James中 @JAugone]

@MaacTheft Can we get a post Iona 4-0 start update?

[James中 @JAugone]

This Iona team is good.

Believe in geriot.

[James中 @JAugone]

@SienaRaider @stf_ncaa @SienaMBB As much as I dislike Siena I do have to agree they should be in the list.

[James中 @JAugone]

@MilesMcQuiggan lol I can’t wait til the press release comes out that Disney/espn has the tourney.

[James中 @JAugone]

@DalyDoseOfHoops I was thiiiiisss close to posting the Simpson say it meme

[James中 @JAugone]

@Titans might be the worst run franchise for letting Vrabel go

#Patriots #maye4mvp