The three finalists for the Doak Walker Award were released Tuesday night. The most interesting thing is that all three hail from the Big Ten Conference. They are Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah, Indiana's Tevin Coleman, and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon.
Ameer Abdullah is playing through an injury he suffered against Purdue. He hasn't been the same yet he still ran for 98 yards on the ground on 20 carries for a 4.9 yard average against a very good Minnesota defense. He is also small at 5-foot 9 yet he plays bigger than his frame, willing to take the hits. Abdullah's statistics this season are as follows: 1417 yards on 224 rushing attempts for a 6.3 average yards per carry with 18 touchdowns, and 195 receiving yards on 14 attempts, including a 58-yard game winning touchdown in week 2. He also has more rushing touchdowns this season with two guaranteed games still to play than Mark Ingram did over the course of the national championship and Heisman winning season for Alabama in 2009, as well as the yards per carry average, where Ingram only had 17 rushing touchdowns and 6.12 yards per carry.
Tevin Coleman is playing on one of the worst teams in the country and he is often getting overlooked as a result of being in a uni-dimensional offense. He is one of the most adept runners in the country, average 7.9 yards per carry on the season and totaling 1906 yards on the ground through 11 games. Indiana is not bowl eligible, which makes his numbers that much more impressive, considering that they came in a smaller number of games. Coleman has ten games of over 100 yards on the ground, where he had 71 yards in his only non-100 yard rushing game. He is one of two running backs with four 200-yard games as well as one 300-yard game. He puts up numbers week in and week out.
Melvin Gordon is the beneficiary of one of the best offensive lines in the country and he makes the best use of it compared to any running back in college football. Like Coleman, Gordon has only one non-100 yard game, where he was recovering from a hip injury in a game against LSU that he ran for 140 yards on 16 carries for an 8.75 yards per carry average. Gordon has proven that he can win a game by himself this season, with performances like last Saturday against Iowa, and especially the game against Nebraska the week before. He has the most rushing yards from scrimmage this season with 2109 yards, tying Ron Dayne's Big Ten record, yet still has two games to go, plus the Big Ten Championship if Wisconsin can defeat Minnesota on Saturday. Gordon also has the highest yards per carry average in the FBS at 8.8, which is a good yard and two thirds above the current FBS record for the season. Just like Tevin Coleman, Gordon puts up the numbers weekly. But Melvin Gordon plays on a team that still has an outside shot at the playoff.
The winner will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards show in Orlando on December 11.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Sunday, October 5, 2014
New Tang Dynasty Television International Piano Competition Results
Yesterday marked the end of the NTDTV International Piano Competition. I am proud to have competed, but the result was less than satisfying.
I got bounced in preliminaries, and while I thought I played well enough to advance to the semi-finals, the adjudicators thought otherwise. I don't blame them, however. Their opinion is their opinion. I don't regret how I performed. Do I wish I was perfect? Yes. There was one spot that I had a slight slip but I didn't let it stop me. I kept going and that is what a performer is expected to do. I prepared the best I could, and I was ready to play, ready to perform. There is no denying that. I was not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Nobody is perfect.
I was one of twelve competitors eliminated in preliminaries, reducing a field of 26 down to 14. That was later reduced to 7 or 8, and I congratulate everybody who competed, whether they were eliminated early or in the semi-finals, and especially if he or she was a prize winner.
I do not know who the prize winners were or are, but I know they are all talented, and I am forever proud to have not only competed against a plethora of wonderful musicians, but also to have performed in a great city like New York City.
I got bounced in preliminaries, and while I thought I played well enough to advance to the semi-finals, the adjudicators thought otherwise. I don't blame them, however. Their opinion is their opinion. I don't regret how I performed. Do I wish I was perfect? Yes. There was one spot that I had a slight slip but I didn't let it stop me. I kept going and that is what a performer is expected to do. I prepared the best I could, and I was ready to play, ready to perform. There is no denying that. I was not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Nobody is perfect.
I was one of twelve competitors eliminated in preliminaries, reducing a field of 26 down to 14. That was later reduced to 7 or 8, and I congratulate everybody who competed, whether they were eliminated early or in the semi-finals, and especially if he or she was a prize winner.
I do not know who the prize winners were or are, but I know they are all talented, and I am forever proud to have not only competed against a plethora of wonderful musicians, but also to have performed in a great city like New York City.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Frustration
I am not good at handling myself when I'm frustrated. Most of the time. But if someone asks me how I'm doing and if I'm frustrated, I'm usually able to explain that I'm frustrated without showing it.
In a number of cases I'm emotionally driven, when it comes to not doing as well or doing better than I expected, or when something doesn't go as planned. I'm prone to losing my temperament, like throwing my arms out, throwing things, just yelling (and possibly cursing) out of my mind. But it happens very easily if things get out of hand.
The last sentence describes what happened to me earlier today when a glass cup fell off of a table. Luckily it didn't break and I noticed it but I picked up the cup and wiped the floor with my feet. Don't try this at home. I got yelled at for not handling it properly and I knew myself that I could have handled it better. But what frustrated me was the way I was yelled at, and it just lit a fire that I didn't want to be lit. It led to the following: Me throwing my cell phone (it's an old version [3s] of iPhone) against a backpack near one of the zippers. Next thing I know my phone screen is completely shattered (although my phone still works, the touchscreen still functions, etc). I'm just completely irate, frustrated, angry, whatever you want to call it. I was then yelled at even more, but what could I do at this point? My phone screen was already shattered, I can't un-shatter it, I can't undo the fact I threw my phone out of frustration, and the person who was yelling at me wasn't understanding that and it frustrated me further. (Me getting yelled at was fair, but) I was able to regain some of my composure when explaining that, but it's a feeling that I never want to have.
Having had multiple experiences like these before this, I knew that I, myself, dwell on a lot of things, and I just simply can't. It's always something I'm working to avoid. I know I have the potential to deal with it well. But I'm not good at it. Having had multiple experiences like these, it's hard to deal with frustration, and some are simply better at it than others. Some people don't ever get frustrated. And when they do, they don't show it. My goal is to aim to be that.
In a number of cases I'm emotionally driven, when it comes to not doing as well or doing better than I expected, or when something doesn't go as planned. I'm prone to losing my temperament, like throwing my arms out, throwing things, just yelling (and possibly cursing) out of my mind. But it happens very easily if things get out of hand.
The last sentence describes what happened to me earlier today when a glass cup fell off of a table. Luckily it didn't break and I noticed it but I picked up the cup and wiped the floor with my feet. Don't try this at home. I got yelled at for not handling it properly and I knew myself that I could have handled it better. But what frustrated me was the way I was yelled at, and it just lit a fire that I didn't want to be lit. It led to the following: Me throwing my cell phone (it's an old version [3s] of iPhone) against a backpack near one of the zippers. Next thing I know my phone screen is completely shattered (although my phone still works, the touchscreen still functions, etc). I'm just completely irate, frustrated, angry, whatever you want to call it. I was then yelled at even more, but what could I do at this point? My phone screen was already shattered, I can't un-shatter it, I can't undo the fact I threw my phone out of frustration, and the person who was yelling at me wasn't understanding that and it frustrated me further. (Me getting yelled at was fair, but) I was able to regain some of my composure when explaining that, but it's a feeling that I never want to have.
Having had multiple experiences like these before this, I knew that I, myself, dwell on a lot of things, and I just simply can't. It's always something I'm working to avoid. I know I have the potential to deal with it well. But I'm not good at it. Having had multiple experiences like these, it's hard to deal with frustration, and some are simply better at it than others. Some people don't ever get frustrated. And when they do, they don't show it. My goal is to aim to be that.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Why The Anti-Flopping System In The NBA Needs To Be Adjusted
Many fans love to watch professional basketball. Basketball
fans love to see guys like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Paul George,
Dirk Nowitzki, or Tony Parker, leaving it all on the floor, putting on a show
for an arena of roughly fifteen or twenty thousand fans. On the other hand, they
dislike when physical fouls occur, when fights break out, and tantrums take
place. But basketball fans dislike flopping the most. Just like the prevalence
of concussions in the National Football League, flopping is becoming
increasingly evident in the NBA game today. It is something that needs to be
decreased substantially. How? The offenders of the flopping rule need be
disciplined differently, and there needs to be change to the fact that many of
these flops are often called as fouls.
A foul is
one thing, where a player may be too forceful, or not well-positioned. Fouls
will always be part of the game. Again, it is the flopping that needs to be less
prevalent in today's NBA. In my own words, flopping is an act of drawing a foul
without actually being fouled. I personally do find flops and acting jobs to be
funny and worth laughing at, but this is professional basketball. This is the
players' job, and the players need to play like they are on the job. Flopping
shows a lack of professionalism that comes with being a professional basketball
player, one who is expected to show that both on and off the court. I do
believe that these players do handle themselves well, but such is not the case
when they flop on the court. With that said, again, how can this system be adjusted,
for the better of the game?
First, an
instant replay system should be installed, to review these 'flop-fouls'. When a
foul is supposedly under question, it should be called that way, and that is
fine. While using instant replay does take away from the timeliness of the
professional game, it's important that flopping is lessened, and by calling
upon replay, the officials can look at the play of which a foul is called and
see whether it is actually a foul or a flop. I understand that the players sell
it to the official, and do it very well to get the call in their favor, but
whether that works or not, this replay system would help eliminate some of the
bogus foul calls that are being called in favor of flops. Play would be
continued with the offensive team maintaining possession.
Secondly,
but more importantly, the discipline that the players receive, especially on
earlier offenses, provides incentive to continue flopping, even though they
know that they will be fined more for each progressive offense. To at least put
an effort to lessen flopping in the NBA, the league should impose stiffer
penalties on earlier offenses. For example, the first offense should be a
five-game suspension without pay, and each progressive offense results in double
the length of discipline retroactive to the previous offense, such that the
fifth offense results in a season-long ban, including playoffs. This sends the message
that, "If you flop, you are going to lose your salary and right to play
professional basketball for a specific period of time, hurting not just
yourself, but your team, your coaches, and executive office". I am all for
finding ways to win games for NBA players, but if flopping is the way, I do not
stand for it.
It is just as strong of a combination if both the harsher discipline and the replay system are used, whether it's used simultaneously or not. An alternative to the second suggestion would be to assess a technical foul for a flop, which would carry over to the next game. Then, if that same player flops again in the same game or the next game, he should be ejected for the rest of that game, of which the purpose is to send the same message as above.
It is just as strong of a combination if both the harsher discipline and the replay system are used, whether it's used simultaneously or not. An alternative to the second suggestion would be to assess a technical foul for a flop, which would carry over to the next game. Then, if that same player flops again in the same game or the next game, he should be ejected for the rest of that game, of which the purpose is to send the same message as above.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Pain and Heartbreak, Falling Short
Have you ever felt like you hurt somebody, whether he or she feels that way or not? Have you ever felt like you haven't lived up to an expectation that was set for you, or you set for yourself?
You're not alone. I felt that way after the end of Biology 172.
UPDATE 6.24.14
I didn't do much better than on the first two exams and it absolutely pains me. Had a combined 119.5/200 (92/160 on Multiple choice, 27.5/40 on short answer) where I thought I'd maybe get closer to 140 / 200 combined. I thought and felt I had done better than my result but I guess not. I'll have to see what I did wrong whenever I am able to pick up the exam.
I did improve my score from exam to exam but the amount of points I lost is simply unacceptable, especially because I expect myself to perform at a high level, something I clearly didn't meet in this class.
I can't dwell on this and I can only strive to do better, although it's not for Biology 172 anymore. It really makes me feel sad that I wasn't able to do well enough to make my GSI and my professor proud. I feel like I've hurt them more than I've hurt myself by not doing well. The instructors put in a great deal of time and dedication to the material to present it to us students in a clear and understandable manner. They teach it well and make it enjoyable. My performance in the class is not reflective of how they taught the material. That's what really stings the most.
Just like they say in sports, the little things make a big difference.
Hopefully they work in your favor.
Have a good night everybody!
-Paul
You're not alone. I felt that way after the end of Biology 172.
UPDATE 6.24.14
I didn't do much better than on the first two exams and it absolutely pains me. Had a combined 119.5/200 (92/160 on Multiple choice, 27.5/40 on short answer) where I thought I'd maybe get closer to 140 / 200 combined. I thought and felt I had done better than my result but I guess not. I'll have to see what I did wrong whenever I am able to pick up the exam.
I did improve my score from exam to exam but the amount of points I lost is simply unacceptable, especially because I expect myself to perform at a high level, something I clearly didn't meet in this class.
I can't dwell on this and I can only strive to do better, although it's not for Biology 172 anymore. It really makes me feel sad that I wasn't able to do well enough to make my GSI and my professor proud. I feel like I've hurt them more than I've hurt myself by not doing well. The instructors put in a great deal of time and dedication to the material to present it to us students in a clear and understandable manner. They teach it well and make it enjoyable. My performance in the class is not reflective of how they taught the material. That's what really stings the most.
Just like they say in sports, the little things make a big difference.
Hopefully they work in your favor.
Have a good night everybody!
-Paul
Monday, June 23, 2014
Update 6/23/14
Good afternoon all!
I apologize that I haven't posted on this blog in a long time. Spring term is done for me and summer term starts next week! I'm taking EARTH 119 which is taught by Prof. Lohmann. I'm looking forward to meeting him and working hard!
Bio 172 exam was my last thing to do for spring term, and I felt prepared. I thought I did okay. I came in with the mentality that this was my last chance to finish the term strong and I wanted to give my best shot. I believe I did and we'll see when the grades get released. I'm praying for the best result.
I did go and binge-eat some after the exam so I'm still kind of full from lunch. But I'm looking forward to the rest of the summer, practicing piano, preparing for orchestra auditions on violin, and just enjoying the time that summer is providing, whether I'm practicing, going to class, playing video games, watching TV, etc.
Have a good day everybody!
Paul
I apologize that I haven't posted on this blog in a long time. Spring term is done for me and summer term starts next week! I'm taking EARTH 119 which is taught by Prof. Lohmann. I'm looking forward to meeting him and working hard!
Bio 172 exam was my last thing to do for spring term, and I felt prepared. I thought I did okay. I came in with the mentality that this was my last chance to finish the term strong and I wanted to give my best shot. I believe I did and we'll see when the grades get released. I'm praying for the best result.
I did go and binge-eat some after the exam so I'm still kind of full from lunch. But I'm looking forward to the rest of the summer, practicing piano, preparing for orchestra auditions on violin, and just enjoying the time that summer is providing, whether I'm practicing, going to class, playing video games, watching TV, etc.
Have a good day everybody!
Paul
Saturday, May 17, 2014
My take on the Donald Sterling situation
We all know about the 'fallout' in the situation regarding Donald Sterling's "racist comments" as well as him saying "I am not a racist" and his wife, Shelly, concurring with it. This is all contradictory. The real question is, is the REAL Donald Sterling a racist? My answer is yes.
Why?
He can't even really make up his mind and he targets a legendary basketball player in Magic Johnson, calling him out by saying that Johnson has sex with every girl in Los Angeles. That is a very hasty generalization. Just because Magic Johnson got HIV doesn't mean he had sex with every girl in LA. It just means he caught it from one occasion. It could be true that he had sex with every girl in LA, but it doesn't mean he got HIV from every sexual interaction. And we don't know if every girl who Johnson possibly had sex with contracted HIV. His point in this case is a racist one, in my opinion.
Should Sterling be forced to sell the Clippers? Sure. Blake Griffin recently said that it will get worse the longer it goes, and he doesn't want to answer any further questions. I wouldn't want to either and I completely agree with Blake. LeBron James said "There is no place for Sterling" in the league. I agree with LeBron too. People who play basketball were taught at a young age to respect the game, and those who play it. Sterling clearly has not done so. This also means that Shelly Sterling should not be allowed to take over the ownership.
I also fully support, as a basketball spectator, commissioner Adam's Silver's punishment on Donald Sterling. He swung for the fences and hit big with his first chance to lay down the hammer.
Donald Sterling has refused to pay the $2.5M fine and his attorney has said that the NBA violated his rights to due process. And Sterling can fight it all he wants. Suing the NBA won't cut it for him, and I don't think he has a strong enough case against the NBA.
Donald Sterling, it's time to go. You've had your time.
Why?
He can't even really make up his mind and he targets a legendary basketball player in Magic Johnson, calling him out by saying that Johnson has sex with every girl in Los Angeles. That is a very hasty generalization. Just because Magic Johnson got HIV doesn't mean he had sex with every girl in LA. It just means he caught it from one occasion. It could be true that he had sex with every girl in LA, but it doesn't mean he got HIV from every sexual interaction. And we don't know if every girl who Johnson possibly had sex with contracted HIV. His point in this case is a racist one, in my opinion.
Should Sterling be forced to sell the Clippers? Sure. Blake Griffin recently said that it will get worse the longer it goes, and he doesn't want to answer any further questions. I wouldn't want to either and I completely agree with Blake. LeBron James said "There is no place for Sterling" in the league. I agree with LeBron too. People who play basketball were taught at a young age to respect the game, and those who play it. Sterling clearly has not done so. This also means that Shelly Sterling should not be allowed to take over the ownership.
I also fully support, as a basketball spectator, commissioner Adam's Silver's punishment on Donald Sterling. He swung for the fences and hit big with his first chance to lay down the hammer.
Donald Sterling has refused to pay the $2.5M fine and his attorney has said that the NBA violated his rights to due process. And Sterling can fight it all he wants. Suing the NBA won't cut it for him, and I don't think he has a strong enough case against the NBA.
Donald Sterling, it's time to go. You've had your time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)