Good Old Fashioned Pancakes
"This is a great recipe that I found in my Grandma's recipe book. Judging from the weathered look of this recipe card, this was a family favorite."Rate and Reviewfasdfasd
Prep Time:
5 MinCook Time:
15 MinReady In:
20 Min
Original Recipe Yield 8 servings
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
3 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
1.In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.
2.Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Eating the Elephant
November 23, 2009
Eating the Elephant
By Brian Tracy
You have heard the question, "How do you eat an elephant?" The answer is, "one bite at a time." This metaphor applies to achieving any big goal, as well. How do you achieve a huge goal? You accomplish it one step, one task, one measure at a time.
Identify Your Most Valuable Task
Ask your boss, "What one thing do I do that is more valuable than anything else?" Whatever his or her answer, look for ways to perform more and more of that task and to get better and better at doing it. It is absolutely amazing how much you can accomplish if you break your tasks down into bite-sized pieces, set deadlines, and then do one piece at a time, every single day.
Continuous and Never Ending Improvement
If you want to increase your hourly rate and your income, look for ways to get a little bit better at the most important tasks you do, every single day. Read one hour per day in your field. Listen to audio programs on your way to and from work. Take additional courses whenever you can. These activities will propel your entire career onto the fast track. When you invest an extra one or two hours per day in self-improvement, the cumulative effect on your greater ability to get results can be extraordinary.
Eating the Elephant
By Brian Tracy
You have heard the question, "How do you eat an elephant?" The answer is, "one bite at a time." This metaphor applies to achieving any big goal, as well. How do you achieve a huge goal? You accomplish it one step, one task, one measure at a time.
Identify Your Most Valuable Task
Ask your boss, "What one thing do I do that is more valuable than anything else?" Whatever his or her answer, look for ways to perform more and more of that task and to get better and better at doing it. It is absolutely amazing how much you can accomplish if you break your tasks down into bite-sized pieces, set deadlines, and then do one piece at a time, every single day.
Continuous and Never Ending Improvement
If you want to increase your hourly rate and your income, look for ways to get a little bit better at the most important tasks you do, every single day. Read one hour per day in your field. Listen to audio programs on your way to and from work. Take additional courses whenever you can. These activities will propel your entire career onto the fast track. When you invest an extra one or two hours per day in self-improvement, the cumulative effect on your greater ability to get results can be extraordinary.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Fourth Step Inventory Sheets from Joe and Charlie
I have been asked many times in my recovery, what do you think about . . ., or how should I . . . or what do I do when . . . and most times if not all times, I tell people that I don't give advice on recovery related stuff. And of course, if it has to do with people, places, things or situations, then it is recovery related stuff. What I have come to discover is that the steps relate to all of my lifes issues. If I am struggling with a person, place, institution or philosophy, then my sponsor tells me that it is probably time to do an inventory.
The fourth step of our program says that we take a searching and fearless inventory of ourselves. The fearless part is addressed in the big book by completing step 3. Strengthing our faith removes the fear. We pray about our inventory and the fear disappears. The searching part can be more difficult. Bill explains the process on pages 64 -71. Joe and Charlie took Bills explaination and charted it out. These charts are right from Bill directions taken right from the Big Book. I have used them with my sponsor and have passed them on to my sponsees as well. They are very helpful and I hope that you can use them in your journey towards a better understand of self. I must add though, befor using these for yourself, please run them by your sponsor. Print out an extra copy and give them to your sponsor. That's what I would do . . .
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
very old pic
This is a pic of Amy Izak and me taken . . . a long time ago!!! At a Detroit Producers Association Halloween Party. Probably around 1992 I would have to guess.Amy, where are you now ??????????
Monday, June 1, 2009
Are you a Giver or a Taker . . .
The Policy of Joint Agreement.
http://www.marriagebuilders.com/graphic/mbi3500_policy.html
Solving conflict in a blended family is not a speciality of mine. I often find myself in the midst of conflict because of something I said or something directed at me or my kids. Usually it ends up in some hurt feelings or a hard nosed grudge match for the day, then we resolve to resolve it and we move on. Sounds like a viscious cycle? That's what I thought also. We have to change something in order for any changes to occure. Otherwise we will just keep on going around and around until ultimately someone gets really hurt or offended and says "enough is enough". I don't want it to get to that point. If you keep doing the same things you keep getting the same results, right? I know all of this stuff. So why can't we come up with a solution to all this conflict????? Dr. Harley might just be on to something with the policy of joint agreement. Check it out and let me know what you think . . .
More later . . .
http://www.marriagebuilders.com/graphic/mbi3500_policy.html
Solving conflict in a blended family is not a speciality of mine. I often find myself in the midst of conflict because of something I said or something directed at me or my kids. Usually it ends up in some hurt feelings or a hard nosed grudge match for the day, then we resolve to resolve it and we move on. Sounds like a viscious cycle? That's what I thought also. We have to change something in order for any changes to occure. Otherwise we will just keep on going around and around until ultimately someone gets really hurt or offended and says "enough is enough". I don't want it to get to that point. If you keep doing the same things you keep getting the same results, right? I know all of this stuff. So why can't we come up with a solution to all this conflict????? Dr. Harley might just be on to something with the policy of joint agreement. Check it out and let me know what you think . . .
More later . . .
Star Trek
I finnally saw Star Trek, the new motion picture from Paramount. This is the Pre-quel to the James T. Kirk stories. I was rivited to my seat for the entire show. The story takes you from the birth of Kirk up to the point of him becoming captain of the Enterprise. Well done!! Lots of Action. Not just a 180 minute version of the T.V. series. Although I would love to see a weekly series come from this story. I think this movie is going to do great things for the whole Trek structure. Kudos to Abrams. Ty Burr of the Boston Globe liked it also, for his review visit <"http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2009/05/05/a_fresh_frontier/">
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Movie Review; Star Trek
Hollywood.com Review
Star Trek
Story WHAT IT'S ABOUT?
After six different TV series and 10 feature films, director J.J. Abrams (MI:3, Lost, Alias) takes the Star Trek franchise back to the beginning to tell how James T. Kirk, a brash, hot-rod-loving kid from Iowa, and Spock, a thoughtful and logical half-human/half-Vulcan, meet and compete at the Starfleet Academy and are chosen by Captain Pike to join the maiden voyage of the Starship Enterprise. Unlike other Treks, Abrams' film develops credible backstories for the two characters as they join several other newcomers, including fresh-faced cadets Leonard "Bones" McCoy, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, Uhura, Hikaru Sulu and Pavel Chekov. The story focuses on the clash between Kirk and Spock as the young crew faces a major first test in battling Nero, an unrelentingly evil Romulan who has designs on destroying Earth, Vulcan and the rest of the Federated planets.
WHO'S IN IT?
Smartly stitching together an attractive and talented young cast to take this series back to the future (and hoped-for sequels), Abrams wisely is not looking for actors doing impressions of a young William Shatner or Leonard Nimoy. In Chris Pine as Kirk and Zachary Quinto (Heroes) as Spock, he found two talented stars who uncannily suggest and interpret these iconic characters at the beginning of their life voyage together. With the trademark haircut and ears, Quinto nails the essence of what we might imagine Spock was like as a youth. Pine is rugged and cocky but not over-the-top as Kirk. As the reigning Captain Pike, Bruce Greenwood is solid and commanding. The rest of the crew is perfectly cast, with Karl Urban's Bones, Zoe Saldana's "take-no-prisoners" Uhura and John Cho's Sulu fitting their roles like a glove. Anton Yelchin's super-thick Russian accent as Chekov is grating at times, but it's a minor quibble. The best performance of all comes later in the picture, when British star Simon Pegg turns up as Scotty and steals every scene he's in with choice one-liners and a sassy attitude. A tattoo-faced Eric Bana is perfect as the main villain Nero, who operates out of the eerily dark and stunning vessel, dubbed the Narada. His cunning and reserve help make him far more complex than your father's Trek villains. And look for a substantial and inspiring visit from Leonard Nimoy (the original Spock), who has been ingeniously woven into the proceedings.
WHAT'S GOOD?
Let's face it: Star Trek was getting tired, with diminishing box-office returns and falling TV ratings. By going back to the beginning and introducing a whole new youthful vibe past Treks never had, Abrams has given a new lease on life to a legendary 40-year-old adventure that now can go on to live long(er) and (fortunately for Paramount) prosper all over again. The updated casting is joined by state-of-the-art visual effects and action set pieces that outdo any previous incarnations, and the whip-smart screenplay by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman does creator Gene Roddenberry's original vision proud while introducing it to a new generation. Key to successfully accomplishing this mission was to create a new take that would bring in new devotees but not turn off the faithful Trekkies who've kept this thing going for so long. Done.
WHAT'S BAD?
Other than Yelchin's accent, only the overriding feeling that any potential sequels can never match the joy of seeing the genesis of Star Trek portrayed like it is here. But bring 'em on anyway.
FAVORITE SCENE:
There are many thrilling moments, including Kirk's terrifying encounter with a deadly beast on the bone-chilling ice planet Delta Vega and the battle between the Narada and Enterprise. But the early Starfleet Academy scenes involving Kirk and Spock, whose sharp exchanges showcase their youthful rivalry, really set the stage for a fascinating and complicated relationship, forming the heart and soul of not only this prequel but the entire basis of the Star Trek concept.
Star Trek
Story WHAT IT'S ABOUT?
After six different TV series and 10 feature films, director J.J. Abrams (MI:3, Lost, Alias) takes the Star Trek franchise back to the beginning to tell how James T. Kirk, a brash, hot-rod-loving kid from Iowa, and Spock, a thoughtful and logical half-human/half-Vulcan, meet and compete at the Starfleet Academy and are chosen by Captain Pike to join the maiden voyage of the Starship Enterprise. Unlike other Treks, Abrams' film develops credible backstories for the two characters as they join several other newcomers, including fresh-faced cadets Leonard "Bones" McCoy, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, Uhura, Hikaru Sulu and Pavel Chekov. The story focuses on the clash between Kirk and Spock as the young crew faces a major first test in battling Nero, an unrelentingly evil Romulan who has designs on destroying Earth, Vulcan and the rest of the Federated planets.
WHO'S IN IT?
Smartly stitching together an attractive and talented young cast to take this series back to the future (and hoped-for sequels), Abrams wisely is not looking for actors doing impressions of a young William Shatner or Leonard Nimoy. In Chris Pine as Kirk and Zachary Quinto (Heroes) as Spock, he found two talented stars who uncannily suggest and interpret these iconic characters at the beginning of their life voyage together. With the trademark haircut and ears, Quinto nails the essence of what we might imagine Spock was like as a youth. Pine is rugged and cocky but not over-the-top as Kirk. As the reigning Captain Pike, Bruce Greenwood is solid and commanding. The rest of the crew is perfectly cast, with Karl Urban's Bones, Zoe Saldana's "take-no-prisoners" Uhura and John Cho's Sulu fitting their roles like a glove. Anton Yelchin's super-thick Russian accent as Chekov is grating at times, but it's a minor quibble. The best performance of all comes later in the picture, when British star Simon Pegg turns up as Scotty and steals every scene he's in with choice one-liners and a sassy attitude. A tattoo-faced Eric Bana is perfect as the main villain Nero, who operates out of the eerily dark and stunning vessel, dubbed the Narada. His cunning and reserve help make him far more complex than your father's Trek villains. And look for a substantial and inspiring visit from Leonard Nimoy (the original Spock), who has been ingeniously woven into the proceedings.
WHAT'S GOOD?
Let's face it: Star Trek was getting tired, with diminishing box-office returns and falling TV ratings. By going back to the beginning and introducing a whole new youthful vibe past Treks never had, Abrams has given a new lease on life to a legendary 40-year-old adventure that now can go on to live long(er) and (fortunately for Paramount) prosper all over again. The updated casting is joined by state-of-the-art visual effects and action set pieces that outdo any previous incarnations, and the whip-smart screenplay by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman does creator Gene Roddenberry's original vision proud while introducing it to a new generation. Key to successfully accomplishing this mission was to create a new take that would bring in new devotees but not turn off the faithful Trekkies who've kept this thing going for so long. Done.
WHAT'S BAD?
Other than Yelchin's accent, only the overriding feeling that any potential sequels can never match the joy of seeing the genesis of Star Trek portrayed like it is here. But bring 'em on anyway.
FAVORITE SCENE:
There are many thrilling moments, including Kirk's terrifying encounter with a deadly beast on the bone-chilling ice planet Delta Vega and the battle between the Narada and Enterprise. But the early Starfleet Academy scenes involving Kirk and Spock, whose sharp exchanges showcase their youthful rivalry, really set the stage for a fascinating and complicated relationship, forming the heart and soul of not only this prequel but the entire basis of the Star Trek concept.
To Boldly Go . . .
The greatest adventure of all time begins with "Star Trek," the incredible story of a young crew's maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created: the U.S.S. Enterprise. On a journey filled with action, comedy and cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind. The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James T. Kirk, is a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock, was raised in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes with calm reason, their unlikely but powerful partnership is the only thing capable of leading their crew through unimaginable danger, boldly going where no one has gone before!
RELEASE DATE
05/07/2009 - Nationwide
RUN TIME:
2 hrs. 6 min.
MPAA RATING:
(PG-13 ), for sci-fi action and violence and brief sexual content
GENRE:
SciFi/Fantasy
STARRING:
John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine
DIRECTOR(S):
J.J. Abrams
PRODUCER(S):
J.J. Abrams, Stratton Leopold, Damon Lindelof
WRITER(S):
Eric Jendresen, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, J.J. Abrams, Gene Roddenberry
STUDIO:
Paramount Pictures
RELEASE DATE
05/07/2009 - Nationwide
RUN TIME:
2 hrs. 6 min.
MPAA RATING:
(PG-13 ), for sci-fi action and violence and brief sexual content
GENRE:
SciFi/Fantasy
STARRING:
John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine
DIRECTOR(S):
J.J. Abrams
PRODUCER(S):
J.J. Abrams, Stratton Leopold, Damon Lindelof
WRITER(S):
Eric Jendresen, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, J.J. Abrams, Gene Roddenberry
STUDIO:
Paramount Pictures
Saturday, May 9, 2009
A New Direction for 'Star Trek'
A New Direction for 'Star Trek'
by Matt McDaniel
May 7th, 2009 Director J.J. Abrams put himself in a perilous position when he agreed to direct a new movie version of "Star Trek." On one side, he had the fans. They had embraced a short-lived science fiction television show from the 1960s and, through sheer affection and determination, turned it into a worldwide institution. But in addition to being fiercely loyal, Trekkies can be finicky (for example, if you call them that, rather than "Trekkers"). The television shows, movies, books, graphic novels and video games have weaved together a dense history, or canon, and the hardcore fans reject any attempt to violate the already established continuity.
On the other side of the equation, Abrams had a public that had grown increasingly disinterested in the "Trek" universe. The last movie, 2002's "Star Trek: Nemesis," was the least successful of the 10-film series, bringing in only $43 million in the U.S. And with the cancellation of "Star Trek: Enterprise" in 2005, TV screens were without an ongoing series for the first time in nearly 20 years.
For Abrams and screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (who also wrote "Transformers"), the goal was to find that elusive middle ground that would bring a mass audience to "Star Trek" without offending the faithful. And it was a big bet, too, with a budget estimated at $150 million -- about one-and-a-half times the gross of the most successful of the previous films. So to create a blockbuster from the franchise that had basically defined the term "cult classic," the creators of this new movie knew they had to shake up the formula of what went into a "Trek" movie. Here are five things they did differently than previous "Star Trek" adventures.
1. Start at the Beginning
The first episode of "Star Trek" that aired on TV already had the chain of command aboard the USS Enterprise pretty well established. Kirk was captain, Spock was his number two, and their friendship was already firm. The writers decided that the untold story of how the crew came together could not only show fans something they haven't seen before, but give audiences who were unfamiliar with "Trek" a fresh starting point.
2. Skew younger
William Shatner was 35 years old when he first sat in the captain's chair on the original series. But that made him 48 when he returned to the role in the first movie, and 63 during his final appearance in "Star Trek: Generations." Chris Pine, the new Captain Kirk, is only 28. Along with the other younger actors (except for John Cho, who is actually older than George Takei was when he first played Sulu), this cast brings a freshness and vitality that the movies never had.
3. Pick up the pace
Following the pattern of the original show, the "Trek" movies often had long stretches of dialogue and discussion between action scenes. In fact, the first movie was derisively called "Star Trek: The Slow-Motion Picture" by some critics. Abrams says that as a kid he was more a fan of "Star Wars," and he credits the faster and more intense tempo of that series as the reason. So for his version, he has taken the space battles, fist fights, and even slapstick moments that have been part of "Trek" from the beginning, but speeds them up and packs them together to make his film a more thrilling ride.
4. Update the look
For the new film, the exterior of the Enterprise looks very familiar, albeit rendered in the most advanced digital special effects available. But inside, everything has been updated. From the bridge to the engine room, the ship is bright, sleek, and modern. The transporter and the viewscreen have been enhanced (though many of the classic sound effects can still be heard). Moreover, the visual texture of the movie is different. The camera sweeps and shakes to create a greater sense of immediacy, putting you right in the action.
5. Break away from the past
With all these changes, it seemed like Abrams and company were setting themselves up to be hated by the original fans. But with a bit of storytelling sleight-of-hand, they've been able to chart their own course without violating the series' long and well-documented history. How? The same way Kirk and Spock saved the Earth in "Star Trek IV" -- time travel. When the Romulan villain Nero, played by Eric Bana, is accidentally thrust backwards in time, he resets the past. By shifting the course of time, events play out in new and unexpected ways. Rather than the standard prequel, where the audience knows how the story turns out, this movie creates its own history without violating the established one the fans have loved.
What's important to note, though, is one element from Gene Roddenberry's original creation that still carries through into J.J. Abrams' new vision. And that is a sense of optimism for the future. So many science fiction epics take place in dystopian wastelands where technology only leads to destruction. "Star Trek" envisions a better outcome for humanity, where the Earth has united to explore the final frontier. And that's a dream that is as important to embrace and celebrate now as it's ever been.
by Matt McDaniel
May 7th, 2009 Director J.J. Abrams put himself in a perilous position when he agreed to direct a new movie version of "Star Trek." On one side, he had the fans. They had embraced a short-lived science fiction television show from the 1960s and, through sheer affection and determination, turned it into a worldwide institution. But in addition to being fiercely loyal, Trekkies can be finicky (for example, if you call them that, rather than "Trekkers"). The television shows, movies, books, graphic novels and video games have weaved together a dense history, or canon, and the hardcore fans reject any attempt to violate the already established continuity.
On the other side of the equation, Abrams had a public that had grown increasingly disinterested in the "Trek" universe. The last movie, 2002's "Star Trek: Nemesis," was the least successful of the 10-film series, bringing in only $43 million in the U.S. And with the cancellation of "Star Trek: Enterprise" in 2005, TV screens were without an ongoing series for the first time in nearly 20 years.
For Abrams and screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (who also wrote "Transformers"), the goal was to find that elusive middle ground that would bring a mass audience to "Star Trek" without offending the faithful. And it was a big bet, too, with a budget estimated at $150 million -- about one-and-a-half times the gross of the most successful of the previous films. So to create a blockbuster from the franchise that had basically defined the term "cult classic," the creators of this new movie knew they had to shake up the formula of what went into a "Trek" movie. Here are five things they did differently than previous "Star Trek" adventures.
1. Start at the Beginning
The first episode of "Star Trek" that aired on TV already had the chain of command aboard the USS Enterprise pretty well established. Kirk was captain, Spock was his number two, and their friendship was already firm. The writers decided that the untold story of how the crew came together could not only show fans something they haven't seen before, but give audiences who were unfamiliar with "Trek" a fresh starting point.
2. Skew younger
William Shatner was 35 years old when he first sat in the captain's chair on the original series. But that made him 48 when he returned to the role in the first movie, and 63 during his final appearance in "Star Trek: Generations." Chris Pine, the new Captain Kirk, is only 28. Along with the other younger actors (except for John Cho, who is actually older than George Takei was when he first played Sulu), this cast brings a freshness and vitality that the movies never had.
3. Pick up the pace
Following the pattern of the original show, the "Trek" movies often had long stretches of dialogue and discussion between action scenes. In fact, the first movie was derisively called "Star Trek: The Slow-Motion Picture" by some critics. Abrams says that as a kid he was more a fan of "Star Wars," and he credits the faster and more intense tempo of that series as the reason. So for his version, he has taken the space battles, fist fights, and even slapstick moments that have been part of "Trek" from the beginning, but speeds them up and packs them together to make his film a more thrilling ride.
4. Update the look
For the new film, the exterior of the Enterprise looks very familiar, albeit rendered in the most advanced digital special effects available. But inside, everything has been updated. From the bridge to the engine room, the ship is bright, sleek, and modern. The transporter and the viewscreen have been enhanced (though many of the classic sound effects can still be heard). Moreover, the visual texture of the movie is different. The camera sweeps and shakes to create a greater sense of immediacy, putting you right in the action.
5. Break away from the past
With all these changes, it seemed like Abrams and company were setting themselves up to be hated by the original fans. But with a bit of storytelling sleight-of-hand, they've been able to chart their own course without violating the series' long and well-documented history. How? The same way Kirk and Spock saved the Earth in "Star Trek IV" -- time travel. When the Romulan villain Nero, played by Eric Bana, is accidentally thrust backwards in time, he resets the past. By shifting the course of time, events play out in new and unexpected ways. Rather than the standard prequel, where the audience knows how the story turns out, this movie creates its own history without violating the established one the fans have loved.
What's important to note, though, is one element from Gene Roddenberry's original creation that still carries through into J.J. Abrams' new vision. And that is a sense of optimism for the future. So many science fiction epics take place in dystopian wastelands where technology only leads to destruction. "Star Trek" envisions a better outcome for humanity, where the Earth has united to explore the final frontier. And that's a dream that is as important to embrace and celebrate now as it's ever been.
NBA, Olympic coach Chuck Daly dies at 78
NBA, Olympic coach Chuck Daly dies at 78
AP – File - Detroit Pistons head coach Chuck Daly
yells instructions from the sidelines during game four against … .By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer Larry Lage, Ap Sports Writer – 44 mins ago
DETROIT – Chuck Daly, who coached the original Dream Team to the Olympic gold medal in 1992 after winning back-to-back NBA championships with the Detroit Pistons, has died. He was 78.
He died Saturday morning in Jupiter, Fla., with his family by his side, the team said.The Pistons announced in March that the Hall of Fame coach had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was undergoing treatment.
He was renowned for his ability to create harmony out of diverse personalities at all levels of the game, whether they were Ivy Leaguers at Pennsylvania, Dream Teamers Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, or Pistons as dissimilar as Dennis Rodman and Joe Dumars.
"It's a players' league. They allow you to coach them or they don't," Daly once said. "Once they stop allowing you to coach, you're on your way out."
Daly was voted one of the 10 greatest coaches of the NBA's first half-century in 1996, two years after being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was the first coach to win both an NBA title and Olympic gold.
"I think Chuck understood people as well as basketball," former Pistons guard Joe Dumars told The Associated Press in 1995. "It's a people business."
Doug Collins, a former Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls coach, learned the intricacies of the game from Daly.
"He was a man of incredible class and dignity. He was a mentor and a friend," Collins said. "He taught me so much and was always so supportive of me and my family. I loved him and will miss him."
Daly had a golden touch at the Barcelona Games with NBA superstars Magic Johnson, Jordan, Larry Bird and Barkley, using a different lineup in every game.
"I played against Chuck's teams throughout the NBA for a lot of years. He always had his team prepared, he's a fine coach," Bird said shortly after Daly's diagnosis became public.
"Chuck did a good job of keeping us together," Bird said. "It wasn't about who scored the most points, it was about one thing: winning the gold medal."
Daly humbled the NBA superstars by coaching a group of college players to victory in a controlled scrimmage weeks before the Olympics.
"I was the happiest man in the gym," Daly said afterward.
Daly also made the right moves for the Pistons, who were notorious for their physical play with Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn leading the fight, Dennis Rodman making headlines and Hall of Fame guards Isiah Thomas and Dumars lifting the team to titles in 1989 and 1990.
Former Piston John Salley gave Daly the nickname Daddy Rich for his impeccably tailored suits.
Daly had a career regular-season record of 638-437 in 13 NBA seasons. In 12 playoff appearances, his teams went 75-51. He left Detroit as the Pistons' leader in regular-season and playoff victories.
"The Daly family and the entire Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports and Entertainment family is mourning the loss of Chuck Daly," family and team spokesman Matt Dobek said. "Chuck left a lasting impression with everyone he met both personally and professionally and his spirit will live with all of us forever."
Despite his success, Daly wasn't part of a Coach of the Year presentation until he handed the trophy to then-Detroit coach Rick Carlisle in 2002.
"This is as close as I've ever been to that thing," Daly said, looking at the Red Auerbach Trophy.
Born July 20, 1930, in St. Marys, Pa., Charles Jerome Daly played college ball at St. Bonaventure and Bloomsburg. After two years in the military, he coached for eight seasons at Punxsutawney (Pa.) High School and then spent six years as an assistant at Duke.
Succeeding Bob Cousy as coach at Boston College, Daly coached the Eagles to a 26-24 record over two seasons and then spent seven seasons at Pennsylvania, leading the Quakers to the Ivy League championship in 1972-75.
Daly joined the NBA coaching ranks in 1978 as an assistant under Billy Cunningham in Philadelphia. His first head coaching job was with Cleveland, but he was fired after the Cavaliers went 9-32 over the first half of the 1981-82 season.
In 1983, Daly took over a Detroit team that had never had two straight winning seasons and led the Pistons to nine straight. He persuaded the likes of Rodman, Thomas, Dumars, Mahorn and Laimbeer and to play as a unit and they responded with back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990.
Far from being intimidated by the Pistons' Bad Boys image, Daly saw the upside of it.
"I've also had players who did not care," he said a decade later. "I'd rather have a challenging team."
After leaving Detroit, Daly took over the New Jersey Nets for two seasons and led them to the playoffs both times.
He left broadcasting to return to the bench 1997 with the Orlando Magic and won 74 games over two seasons, then retired at the age of 68 because he said he was weary of the travel.
Daly joined the Vancouver Grizzlies as a senior adviser in 2000.
In retirement, he split time between residences in Jupiter, Fla., and suburban Detroit.
The Pistons retired No. 2 to honor their former coach's two NBA titles in January 1997.
"Without you, there wouldn't be us," Mahorn said to Daly during the ceremony.
Daly is survived by his wife, Terry, as well as daughter Cydney and grandchildren Sebrina and Connor.
___
Associated Press writer Jim Irwin in Detroit and AP Sports Writer Cliff Brunt in Indianapolis contributed
AP – File - Detroit Pistons head coach Chuck Daly
yells instructions from the sidelines during game four against … .By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer Larry Lage, Ap Sports Writer – 44 mins ago
DETROIT – Chuck Daly, who coached the original Dream Team to the Olympic gold medal in 1992 after winning back-to-back NBA championships with the Detroit Pistons, has died. He was 78.
He died Saturday morning in Jupiter, Fla., with his family by his side, the team said.The Pistons announced in March that the Hall of Fame coach had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was undergoing treatment.
He was renowned for his ability to create harmony out of diverse personalities at all levels of the game, whether they were Ivy Leaguers at Pennsylvania, Dream Teamers Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, or Pistons as dissimilar as Dennis Rodman and Joe Dumars.
"It's a players' league. They allow you to coach them or they don't," Daly once said. "Once they stop allowing you to coach, you're on your way out."
Daly was voted one of the 10 greatest coaches of the NBA's first half-century in 1996, two years after being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was the first coach to win both an NBA title and Olympic gold.
"I think Chuck understood people as well as basketball," former Pistons guard Joe Dumars told The Associated Press in 1995. "It's a people business."
Doug Collins, a former Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls coach, learned the intricacies of the game from Daly.
"He was a man of incredible class and dignity. He was a mentor and a friend," Collins said. "He taught me so much and was always so supportive of me and my family. I loved him and will miss him."
Daly had a golden touch at the Barcelona Games with NBA superstars Magic Johnson, Jordan, Larry Bird and Barkley, using a different lineup in every game.
"I played against Chuck's teams throughout the NBA for a lot of years. He always had his team prepared, he's a fine coach," Bird said shortly after Daly's diagnosis became public.
"Chuck did a good job of keeping us together," Bird said. "It wasn't about who scored the most points, it was about one thing: winning the gold medal."
Daly humbled the NBA superstars by coaching a group of college players to victory in a controlled scrimmage weeks before the Olympics.
"I was the happiest man in the gym," Daly said afterward.
Daly also made the right moves for the Pistons, who were notorious for their physical play with Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn leading the fight, Dennis Rodman making headlines and Hall of Fame guards Isiah Thomas and Dumars lifting the team to titles in 1989 and 1990.
Former Piston John Salley gave Daly the nickname Daddy Rich for his impeccably tailored suits.
Daly had a career regular-season record of 638-437 in 13 NBA seasons. In 12 playoff appearances, his teams went 75-51. He left Detroit as the Pistons' leader in regular-season and playoff victories.
"The Daly family and the entire Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports and Entertainment family is mourning the loss of Chuck Daly," family and team spokesman Matt Dobek said. "Chuck left a lasting impression with everyone he met both personally and professionally and his spirit will live with all of us forever."
Despite his success, Daly wasn't part of a Coach of the Year presentation until he handed the trophy to then-Detroit coach Rick Carlisle in 2002.
"This is as close as I've ever been to that thing," Daly said, looking at the Red Auerbach Trophy.
Born July 20, 1930, in St. Marys, Pa., Charles Jerome Daly played college ball at St. Bonaventure and Bloomsburg. After two years in the military, he coached for eight seasons at Punxsutawney (Pa.) High School and then spent six years as an assistant at Duke.
Succeeding Bob Cousy as coach at Boston College, Daly coached the Eagles to a 26-24 record over two seasons and then spent seven seasons at Pennsylvania, leading the Quakers to the Ivy League championship in 1972-75.
Daly joined the NBA coaching ranks in 1978 as an assistant under Billy Cunningham in Philadelphia. His first head coaching job was with Cleveland, but he was fired after the Cavaliers went 9-32 over the first half of the 1981-82 season.
In 1983, Daly took over a Detroit team that had never had two straight winning seasons and led the Pistons to nine straight. He persuaded the likes of Rodman, Thomas, Dumars, Mahorn and Laimbeer and to play as a unit and they responded with back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990.
Far from being intimidated by the Pistons' Bad Boys image, Daly saw the upside of it.
"I've also had players who did not care," he said a decade later. "I'd rather have a challenging team."
After leaving Detroit, Daly took over the New Jersey Nets for two seasons and led them to the playoffs both times.
He left broadcasting to return to the bench 1997 with the Orlando Magic and won 74 games over two seasons, then retired at the age of 68 because he said he was weary of the travel.
Daly joined the Vancouver Grizzlies as a senior adviser in 2000.
In retirement, he split time between residences in Jupiter, Fla., and suburban Detroit.
The Pistons retired No. 2 to honor their former coach's two NBA titles in January 1997.
"Without you, there wouldn't be us," Mahorn said to Daly during the ceremony.
Daly is survived by his wife, Terry, as well as daughter Cydney and grandchildren Sebrina and Connor.
___
Associated Press writer Jim Irwin in Detroit and AP Sports Writer Cliff Brunt in Indianapolis contributed
Saturday, April 25, 2009
In Some Ways, Osgood Can Be Compared to Fuhr
In Some Ways, Osgood Can Be Compared to Fuhr
By Mike Heika
April 22, 2009
Like many of you, the mention of Chris Osgood leaves me with an ``eh, good goalie on a great team’’ sort of feeling.
It is a curse Osgood is forced to carry, and one that clearly wears on him at times. But after seeing him in the playoffs last season and watching him step up against Columbus in the first round this year, I’m trying a new game in how I see the Detroit netminder.
Think about this for a few minutes -- Chris Osgood is like
http://www.versus.com/nw/article/view/78768/?tf=nhl_article.tpl
By Mike Heika
April 22, 2009
Like many of you, the mention of Chris Osgood leaves me with an ``eh, good goalie on a great team’’ sort of feeling.
It is a curse Osgood is forced to carry, and one that clearly wears on him at times. But after seeing him in the playoffs last season and watching him step up against Columbus in the first round this year, I’m trying a new game in how I see the Detroit netminder.
Think about this for a few minutes -- Chris Osgood is like
http://www.versus.com/nw/article/view/78768/?tf=nhl_article.tpl
Monday, March 23, 2009
The Path of Self-destruction
The Path of Self-destruction
March 23, 2009 Story of the Day
January 1973
Vol. 29 No. 8
MY LIFE for the first thirty-four years was a series of well-learned negative feelings and attitudes. So ingrained were these into my total personality that seven and a half years of intensive psychotherapy, plus six months in a psychiatric institute, did no more than give me self-sanction to attempt a nearly successful suicide and to sink further into severe states of depression and anxiety.
I left therapy to continue my progressive alcoholism behind the locked doors of my home, becoming addicted to tranquilizers and sedatives as well. On my not-so-merry way, I carved a perfect path of self-destruction. Quietly and insidiously, many other lives were painfully affected. On this path lie three wrecked marriages.
I always felt I was a completely worthless person. I thought I knew horrible things about myself, and I locked them up in my mind so that no one else could get a glimpse of the real me. From early childhood, I felt I was bad. Even for others' wrongdoings, I took the guilt upon myself, producing fear, anger, and hatred.
The God of my childhood, I thought, didn't want me to talk to Him. If I did turn to Him, I felt, He wouldn't protect me anyway, because it seemed He never answered my prayers--He wanted me to suffer. This great source of strength became a tool against any healthy attitude I might have developed. I didn't dare to love another human being, either, knowing that I wasn't good enough to have the love returned. Frightened, I lived in a world of silence, often wishing I were dead.
Today, as a sober, recovering alcoholic, I know that I was not victimized by society, by my environment, nor by my alcoholic parents, on whom I blamed my many failures and my mental and emotional problems. I was my own judge and jury, my own jailer. I built my own scaffold and was my own executioner, inflicting punishment upon myself at every turn.
One evening, about sixteen months ago, I put down a glass of vodka and announced aloud that somehow I had just decided I never would take another drink, that I had chosen between life and death. I said I wanted life--but only if I could learn how to live happily.
My sole friend and confidante, a nonalcoholic woman, encouraged me to call AA the following morning. My call was answered by two female AAs, one of whom drove me to meetings for a month. Grateful to be accepted as a member at my very first meeting, I read the Steps through blind, unfocused eyes. I listened as best I could, and I began to understand that these people were sober--and happy! And so I did what they suggested. I did it slowly, to be sure, but believing in them and AA. By the grace of God, my compulsion to drink left me early, and my addiction to pills was overcome by hard work with some fine sponsors and other AA friends.
After a few months, one of my sponsors said that when I was ready to take Step Four, I might head my list of character defects with "self-destruction." I was surprised and shaken at this prospect, but it propelled me to begin my search for the truth about myself. First of all, I discovered that, though I was physically sober, my behavior was still self-destructive. Through studying our AA program, attending many, many meetings, and receiving my sponsor's "first aid," I learned that my thoughts were actually the first stage of the self-destructive action. Each day (including today), I asked my Higher Power to give me the strength, courage, and hope to stay sober for that day, and to help me uncover my deeply implanted and instinctive thought processes, to make each and every thought conscious. By taking it one day at a time, I began to realize the tremendous power of my mind when working on a conscious plane with my Higher Power and the AA program. Little by little, I was able to catch those negative thoughts which invariably preceded the self-destructive action, so that I could nip them in the bud.
One day about six months ago, after a particularly upsetting incident, I found myself jotting down these words: "I couldn't accept my self-destructive feelings or actions this time around. I tried to, because it was an old, proven method of dealing with the situation, but I could not accept it. I feel gratitude for God's love and the helping hands of AA."
On the day I wrote those words, I realized that a new life had become mine. A brand-new set of attitudes and values had been born out of one fruitful year of working the suggested Twelve Steps. Difficulties do occur, but now I know that they are a part of living and, more important, that the answers to them are to be found in our AA program.
AA has given me the beautiful gift of life, with tools--the Steps--for building and maintaining happiness. I now truly enjoy my art work and oil painting, and my personal life is pleasant and gratifying. I know there is help in AA any time I reach out, as my closest AA friends have proven time and time again.
I also know that every once in a while a self-destructive thought will creep up on me, but now I recognize it for what it is, and I have learned, with help, how to deal with it. When an old negative thought does come, I tell it, "You can visit, but you can't stay!"
D. E.
Oregon
March 23, 2009 Story of the Day
January 1973
Vol. 29 No. 8
MY LIFE for the first thirty-four years was a series of well-learned negative feelings and attitudes. So ingrained were these into my total personality that seven and a half years of intensive psychotherapy, plus six months in a psychiatric institute, did no more than give me self-sanction to attempt a nearly successful suicide and to sink further into severe states of depression and anxiety.
I left therapy to continue my progressive alcoholism behind the locked doors of my home, becoming addicted to tranquilizers and sedatives as well. On my not-so-merry way, I carved a perfect path of self-destruction. Quietly and insidiously, many other lives were painfully affected. On this path lie three wrecked marriages.
I always felt I was a completely worthless person. I thought I knew horrible things about myself, and I locked them up in my mind so that no one else could get a glimpse of the real me. From early childhood, I felt I was bad. Even for others' wrongdoings, I took the guilt upon myself, producing fear, anger, and hatred.
The God of my childhood, I thought, didn't want me to talk to Him. If I did turn to Him, I felt, He wouldn't protect me anyway, because it seemed He never answered my prayers--He wanted me to suffer. This great source of strength became a tool against any healthy attitude I might have developed. I didn't dare to love another human being, either, knowing that I wasn't good enough to have the love returned. Frightened, I lived in a world of silence, often wishing I were dead.
Today, as a sober, recovering alcoholic, I know that I was not victimized by society, by my environment, nor by my alcoholic parents, on whom I blamed my many failures and my mental and emotional problems. I was my own judge and jury, my own jailer. I built my own scaffold and was my own executioner, inflicting punishment upon myself at every turn.
One evening, about sixteen months ago, I put down a glass of vodka and announced aloud that somehow I had just decided I never would take another drink, that I had chosen between life and death. I said I wanted life--but only if I could learn how to live happily.
My sole friend and confidante, a nonalcoholic woman, encouraged me to call AA the following morning. My call was answered by two female AAs, one of whom drove me to meetings for a month. Grateful to be accepted as a member at my very first meeting, I read the Steps through blind, unfocused eyes. I listened as best I could, and I began to understand that these people were sober--and happy! And so I did what they suggested. I did it slowly, to be sure, but believing in them and AA. By the grace of God, my compulsion to drink left me early, and my addiction to pills was overcome by hard work with some fine sponsors and other AA friends.
After a few months, one of my sponsors said that when I was ready to take Step Four, I might head my list of character defects with "self-destruction." I was surprised and shaken at this prospect, but it propelled me to begin my search for the truth about myself. First of all, I discovered that, though I was physically sober, my behavior was still self-destructive. Through studying our AA program, attending many, many meetings, and receiving my sponsor's "first aid," I learned that my thoughts were actually the first stage of the self-destructive action. Each day (including today), I asked my Higher Power to give me the strength, courage, and hope to stay sober for that day, and to help me uncover my deeply implanted and instinctive thought processes, to make each and every thought conscious. By taking it one day at a time, I began to realize the tremendous power of my mind when working on a conscious plane with my Higher Power and the AA program. Little by little, I was able to catch those negative thoughts which invariably preceded the self-destructive action, so that I could nip them in the bud.
One day about six months ago, after a particularly upsetting incident, I found myself jotting down these words: "I couldn't accept my self-destructive feelings or actions this time around. I tried to, because it was an old, proven method of dealing with the situation, but I could not accept it. I feel gratitude for God's love and the helping hands of AA."
On the day I wrote those words, I realized that a new life had become mine. A brand-new set of attitudes and values had been born out of one fruitful year of working the suggested Twelve Steps. Difficulties do occur, but now I know that they are a part of living and, more important, that the answers to them are to be found in our AA program.
AA has given me the beautiful gift of life, with tools--the Steps--for building and maintaining happiness. I now truly enjoy my art work and oil painting, and my personal life is pleasant and gratifying. I know there is help in AA any time I reach out, as my closest AA friends have proven time and time again.
I also know that every once in a while a self-destructive thought will creep up on me, but now I recognize it for what it is, and I have learned, with help, how to deal with it. When an old negative thought does come, I tell it, "You can visit, but you can't stay!"
D. E.
Oregon
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