My Blog

Dream Big

wilablog — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:22:00 +0000

Interesting little story on the plan hatched over 10 years ago to try and position the US to be able to win the 2010 World Cup. I’m just hoping we break bracket. Then anything can happen. About 90 days until Carlee and I are in South Africa watching the kick-off vs. England. Can’t wait.

Valentine’s Day Photos

wilablog — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:15:00 +0000

I’ve been remiss not to post some photos from our Valentine’s day last month. We decided to do something a little different this year and signed up for a Pack and Paddle canoe trip on Lake Martin followed by a dinner with live cajun music. All around, the evening was amazing, beautiful scenery, intimate dinner with great food, and great tunes from a local band. Here’s a few photos.

The group of paddlers – yes, that dog went with us. No way Jozy would have made it.

Our friends Mark and Karen joined us for the evening.

Carlee and myself getting ready for the canoe trip. Warning flare in hand in case we got lost.

The ladies.

A member of the band.

The gang at dinner.

Despite all bets to the contrary, I did not drop our camera into the lake. So it was a successful evening all around.

The Courage to Continue

wilablog — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:42:00 +0000

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

- Winston Churchill

Independence Stadium

wilablog — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:03:00 +0000

Here’s a photo of the stadium we play in tomorrow for the championship. Rumor is that the game will be a sell out…

Facts I was able to steal from Wikipedia:

Home of the Independence Bowl
The home venue of the Shreveport Steamer of the short-lived World Football League (1974-75)
Home to the Shreveport Pirates of the Canadian Football League (1994-95), which was undergoing US expansion at the time.
Opened in 1925, renovated in 1930, 1950, 1973, 2001
Capacity 53,000

Send Off

wilablog — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:31:00 +0000

We left for the state finals today and the high school had a big send off for the kids. Here is a photo one of the coaches took. There were hundreds of students and the band was out playing the school fight song. Pretty cool all around. Tomorrow we play the number one team in the state and the number 3 team in the country. I love being the underdog.

Fight Club

wilablog — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:13:00 +0000

First coed soccer game of the spring was yesterday afternoon and we lost 4-1 to a team relatively stacked with young guys. We had our chances though and they just didn't drop. The championship will be tough to defend this spring but if we have our full roster at games I think we can get it done.

This was the first game back from my ankle injury and it appears it is pretty far from ready. I was able to play through it though, so I'm hoping it gets back to where it was for next week's game. Feels like I am in Fight Club this morning as I hop on my morning flight to DC. The limp across the airport is gonna be fun.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

To be the best…

wilablog — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:11:00 +0000

…you have to beat the best.

Carlee and I have been watching the winter Olympics over the course of the last week. Watching any type of sport where the intensity, passion and sheer joy/pain of competition is so evident is awesome. From curling to snowboarding, I enjoy it all.

Tomorrow, the high school team I coach travels to northern Louisiana to compete in the state semifinals. It is no small accomplishment that we have made it this far and I am incredibly proud of the guys and excited to be a part of a team with the talent we have. This is the second year in a row that we have advanced to the final 4. Last year we were knocked out prior to reaching the finals. This year, we hope to reach the final and win it all. We are the underdog tomorrow, but that didn’t stop us from pulling an upset in the quarterfinals against the #3 team in the state (we entered the playoffs ranked #6). Tomorrow we take on the second seed.

Here’s to all competitors, champions and not…especially the guys on the teams I coach who put in all the hard work for the the love of the game.

Check out these great photos over at the Big Picture from the Olympics thus far.

Just Us Kids by James McMurtry

wilablog — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:51:00 +0000

Posting this song in memory of my brother’s companion Habanero. What a great picture of him! We’ll miss you Hab!

I’ve had enough of this small town bullshit
I’m not stayin’ in school
I’m makin’ good dough workin’ with my brother
Cleanin’ out pools
I’m going out to California
And man it won’t be long
As soon as I get my license
Color me gone

Oh knock it off Johnny
Man, your livin’ in your head
You ain’t even got a car
And those chicks don’t believe a word ya said
But you’re doin’ all the talkin’
So I just keep quiet
And this’ll probably go no where
But I can’t blame ya for tryin’

It’s just us kids hangin’ round the park at night
Hangin’ round ‘neath the vapor light
We got no drugs and we got no guns
Not even botherin’ anyone

Party in a Parking Lot

wilablog — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:07:00 +0000

Our local sporting goods store was kind of on the way home from the Super Bowl party we went to so we drove by to see if another party had erupted. Sure enough, thousands of people were jammed into the parking lot. We saw a crowd of about 50+ on top of a truck bouncing it up and down, car horns were blaring and it was heavier than rush hour on the drive home. People were everywhere. Crazy all around. Here’s a photo found on the Independent’s website.

Jay-Z Super Bowl XLIV Kick Off

wilablog — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:02:00 +0000

Really liked this song during the pre-game tonight. Converted it later and it’s now on my current play list. What an awesome game!