ATTEMPTS TO ACCESS SPORTS RELATED INFORMATION
I caught myself 7 different times on the internet (3 while in the library studying for my last final of junior year) and 3 more times on my phone; there was also one occurrence where I entered a room with ESPN on the tube, but I left immediately. Very few people tried to engage me in sports-related discussions, but I did ignore the ones that did (much to their dismay).
This post will cover two different things: a discussion of what I can and cannot do because of all the questions I have been receiving, and also a description of my first attempt to branch out by visiting the Johnson Museum of Art.
So, first off, what exactly can I do and what can’t I do?
- Am I allowed to play sports?
Yes and playing sports will likely become a bigger passion in my life again.
- Can I watch minor league baseball or basketball games?
No, not as long as the players are performing with the ultimate goal of reaching the pros.
- Am I able to attend any non-professional sports events?
High school sports events are allowed as long as my little brother is playing, as are non-professional events such as amateur horse racing or other sports that you can’t exactly follow
- Am I allowed to wear sports clothing?
Yes, because if I couldn’t I’d have to buy a whole new wardrobe.
- Do I have to take current sports posters off the wall?
Too late, the only one, depicting a certain athlete, left the wall this past Thursday.
- If a girl tries to pick me up by talking about sports, what do you do?
Run away, far away- to all you ladies out there, I’ve never wanted a girl that is a sports fan anyway.
- What if people at work are sports fans and want to discuss something?
The gameplan: be upfront with the office immediately and let them know the situation.
- What if I happen to be walking down the street and see a professional athlete? (Don’t know if they exist in Ithaca or Albany, where I’ll be for the summer)
Attempt to engage them in a conversation about anything but sports, before politely walking away as if they are just another person on the street.
- Can I play sports video games?
Non-current games, such as NBA JAM, Wayne Gretzky Hockey, etc.
o If I beat all 28 teams in NBA Jam, I get one current Madden game.
o If I produce a shutout in Wayne Gretzky Hockey, I get one current Madden game.
Now that the FAQ’s are out of the way, let me tell you about my experience at the Johnson Museum of Art yesterday. I headed over there around 11:30am in the morning before stopping by the library to do a little studying. I first entered the “Nature Observed and Imagined: Five Hundred Years of Chinese Painting” exhibit, which was very repetitive, but quite interesting. The most interesting piece was the “Archery Contest in the Changchunyuan.” Unfortunately, I was unable to take a picture.
The only other exhibits open were the permanent collection, but this didn’t bother me as I obviously hadn’t seen them before. The painting, “A Battle Scene,” by Aniello Falcone, ca. 1635, looks like something straight out of a Robin Hood battle. I was able to snap a quick photo before a different security guard caught me red handed. Luckily, he just asked me to put the phone away and go on with the rest of my business.
The rest of my business concluded with a trip to the 6th floor observation area for some beautiful views of Ithaca, and the cranes so indicative of the current state of this campus. While I was up there, I was asked very politely if I could take a picture for a young couple. I accepted and was sent into a whirlwind of picture taking tasks.
First of all, they asked me to take “a picture.” They didn’t ask me to take three different types of pictures in four different locations on the floor. If they had, and I had accepted, it may be a little more reasonable. However, I began to take the first picture with them sitting with the view in the background. Next, they had me take eleven more pictures:
- Vertical camera, “picture takers” sitting
- Angled to the left, “picture takers” sitting
“Are you getting the rule of thirds”
“Yes, ma’am, I took Basic and Advanced Photography in high school"
- Vertical camera, “picture takers” standing
- Horizontal camera, “picture takers” standing
- Angled to the right, “picture takers” standing
She turns to me and asks, “What do you think we should do next?
All I could say was, “Next?”
- Horizontal camera, “picture taker guy” holding “picture taker girl” in his arms
- Vertical camera, “picture taker guy” holding “picture taker girl” in his arms
- Angled to the right camera, “picture taker guy” holding “picture taker girl” in his arms
I hand the camera to the girl.
“How do you think they turned out, honey?”
“Eh, are you sure you took advanced photo?
- Horizontal camera, “picture taker girl” holding “picture taker guy” in her arms
- Vertical camera, “picture taker girl” holding “picture taker guy” in her arms
- Angled to the right, “picture taker girl” holding “picture taker guy” in her arms
Did the Johnson museum create a new passion? Probably not. But, was it a start? Most definitely. I had thought about picking up photography again, but after I was done with the “picture takers,” it was no longer a thought in my head.
My Sports Free Fact of the Day: The owner of Kodak (George Eastman) named his company after the sound the he thought the camera shutter made.
My Potential New Activity for Today: Yoga at 5:00pm at Noyes Fitness Center
