Best Client EVER

I have a client that likes to invest his money in some strange things.  I was recently hired to look into one of his possible investments.  Guess what he’s investing in?  Because of confidentiality issues, I can’t tell you exactly what it is, but I can tel you it’s in the porn industry.  What does that mean?  I have to watch porn – AND get paid  – AND not have to “perform”.

Life is good – even if I have to wait at least one more day for the new iphone.

More on that later.

The War Begins Tonight

Last night, I had the pleasure of watching, of all people, Andruw Jones win a game for the Dodgers.  Lowe pitched a great game flirting with a no-hitter.  The low light of the game – it almost took me longer to get out of the Dodger parking lot than the entire game took.

Anyways, tonight the war begins as the coaches will converge telephonically to begin the massive task of seating the following divisions – US Nationals 200m, US Nationals 500m, 2 Club Crew Championship squads, 2 Festival squads and 2 gender squads.

It’s going to be fun….

Uh-Oh

So yesterday, FARTLEKs were the workout of choice for my morning session.  After a one-mile warm up, I eased into FARTLEK #1, then I feel a twinge/strain in my left leg between the bottom of my calf and heel.  Uh-oh.  I immediately stop and walk the one mile home as I watched old ladies jogging past me.  Then I hobbled over to the freezer and did the ice pack thing for awhile.

It felt stiff and achy all day yesterday.  So far today, I don’t feel any pain but I’m not going to be doing anything other than balance ball stuff today.

We’ll see how it goes…

Before I get bombarded with comments about me getting old – that’s true, I am.   Age-wise I should be nearing the end of my Major League Baseball or NBA career (as for paddling and triathlon, there is no end in sight!) but for anyone that has known me, they can attest to the fact that I’ve been a walking M*A*S*H* unit most of my life – taking headers on guard rails, slamming on a bike to flat bottom from 10 feet in the air, blowing out my knee skiing (still blown out), rupturing a disc in my back, ripping a tendon in my elbow, etc….

Here’s an example of why I’m always getting injured (this specific crash, I didn’t hurt myself too bad) – video courtesy of Tony:

Blast from the Past: I AM SWEET

For those of you new to our team, you may not have seen this article written about yours truly by Wileen Wong, LARD member and sister of Wynee.

CLICK HERE to read the article.

This picture was taken right before I slammed my head on the gunnel.  Check out my retarded gloves, my bottom hand position, my head hanging out over the boat and the yellow tank we used to paddle!

Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival – EXTINCT?

Found this video on the future of the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival.  CLICK HERE to watch the video.

I love the Canadian accent – “oot”, “aboot”, “proe-cess”.

No LARD? WTF?!?!?!?

From K1.

F Baja Fresh.  I’m a Chipotle guy anyways.

Los Angeles’ Lotus Festival Dragon Boat Races Next Weekend

The City of Los Angeles will be holding its 31st annual Lotus Festival beginning this Friday at Echo Park in Los Angeles and running through Sunday, with dragon boat races, music, dance and art celebrating the cultures of Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Many years ago, LARD participated in this dragon boat “race” and suffered its most embarrassing loss in its history.  Granted, it was very early in LARD’s history but it was still rather embarrassing.  I am sure if you asked any veterans about it, they would say they didn’t remember this race as most of us have erased it from our memories.

The dragon “boats” consisted of 2 canoes duct taped and tied together.  The organizers provided large aluminum shafted paddles with concaved plastic paddles that had much more surface area than our regular paddles.  For some reason, we opted to use our paddles instead and proceeded to get whipped around (yes, around – the course was not straight) the race course by people that have never paddled before.  It was quite embarassing.

The coolest thing about this festival is that is right near my tattoo artist’s shop.

Unfortunately, because of LARD’s “hectic” race schedule this season we have decided not to participate this year. 

Click here for more details.  For pictures of their “boats”, click here.

2 Weekends Left Before Nationals and Club Crew Championships!

We just wrapped up another great weekend of practice.  All boats were very strong as we fine tuned technique before we go heavily into race sets in upcoming practices.  Attendance at the optional land training session Sunday was great.  Keep up the good work.

As most of you know, LARD will be participating in Nationals, the regular Long Beach Festival, AND Club Crew Championships (CCC).  We are entering TWO teams for CCC – both Black and Red – so that a majority of the LARD paddlers can participate and experience this high level of paddling.

We will be participating in the following divisions during the weekend of the Long Beach Dragon Boat tournament:

1.  Nationals - Premiere Mixed Division (200 & 500 meters),

2.  CCC Red – one 500 meter race for all the marbles,

3.  CCC Black - see 2 above,

4.  Red Festival – just like every year in LB (500 m – 200 m Grand Championship depending on placement and whether the race officials think there will be enough time for it),

5.  Black Festival - see 2 above,

6.  Female/Gender - 500m,

7.  Male/Gender - 500m, and

8.  Nationals West Coast All Stars - Premiere Open/Men – (200, 500, and 1000 meters) – a select few of the LARD men will be participating on this team along with paddlers from San Diego, Wasabi, Kai Ikaika, and the local outrigger communities.

That’s A LOT of racing.  You will get plenty of races that weekend – make sure you are ready – both physically and mentally.

As usual, I have expectations for team performance, and as usual, I know you will perform beyond my expectations.

Be smart.  Train hard.  Paddle like I know you can.  We are almost there.

LARD Nationals Hat????

How’s this for LARD’s Official Nationals hat?  For some reason, I think some of you will object… 

For those of you that didn’t know, this was the hat worn by the Dodgers on July 4th in their dismantling of the Giants.

ROW!

Something I received through email that I think Jeannie would enjoy.

ROW, ROW, ROW your dragon boat!

(my fingers are now bleeding)

Happy 4th of July!

Otto Before

Will found this gem.

Check this photo out – Some LARD regulars – Yonnie, Andy, Gary, Susan’s non-matching blue pfd, Gilda and Otto, but wait! Otto is paddling for SD!

Must be before he saw the light…

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Poll of the Day: Mid Week Training

USDBF Dragon Boat National Championship “Gateway to the Worlds in 2009″

LARD is racing in the Premier Mixed Division, both LARD Red and LARD Black will be participating in the Club Crew Championships, and select LARD men are racing in the Premier Open Division for the West Coast All Stars.  Nick will be paddling on a yet-to-be-determined Masters squad.

Here’s the relevant breakdown:

Premier Mixed Division – 3 teams are registered:

1.  Philadelphia

2. West Coast All Stars Mixed

3. LARD

Premier Open

1.  Philadelphia

2.  West Coast All Stars

Club Crew Championships

1.  Wasabi

2.  San Diego

3.  LARD Red

4.  LARD Black

5.  Hydroblades (Florida)

6.  NACAWPA (Washington DC)

Here’s the Tentative Schedule of Events:

Team USA Qualifier and U.S. National Club Crew Championship – July 25 – 27, 2008
Wednesday, July 23
– All Day – Crews arrive
– Noon to 5:00 p.m. – Team USA Qualifier and US National Club Crew Registration and Practice *
Thursday, July 24
– All Day – Crews arrive
– 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. –Team USA Qualifier and US National Club Crew Registration and Practice *
– 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Race Officials Training Course will be offered by Bob Morro and Joel Shilling.
– 5:00 p.m. – USDBF Officials meeting
– 6:00 p.m. – Mandatory Crew Leader meeting for Team USA Qualifier teams
**All crews racing in the Team USA Qualifier MUST register by 6:00 p.m. on Thursday

Friday, July 25***

– 7:00 a.m. Team USA Qualifier Leaders and Managers Meeting
– 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. U S National Club Crew registration
– 8:00 a.m. to noon Team USA Qualifier 200 meter racing (Open, Women and Mixed)
– 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Team USA Qualifier 1000 meter racing (Open and Women)
– 7:00 p.m. USDBF Officials meeting
Saturday, July 26
– 7:00 a.m. Team USA Qualifier and US National Club Crew Leaders and Managers Meeting
– 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Team USA Qualifier and US National Dragon Boat Racing Championships
500 meter racing (Mixed)
– 9:00 a.m. Opening Ceremonies
– 7:00 p.m. USDBF Officials meeting
Sunday, July 27
– 7:00 a.m. Team USA Qualifier and US Nationals Club Crew Leaders and Managers Meeting
– 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Team USA Qualifier and US National Dragon Boat Racing Championships
500 meter racing (Open and Women)
– 5:00 p.m. Combined Award and Closing Ceremonies

*** Because of daily roster requirements, it will be impossible for all rostered Nationals paddlers to race on Friday.  The coaches will do our best to let you know if you will be racing on Friday.  Even if you don’t, your support would be greatly appreciated.

For more information, visit www.usdbf.org

Poll Question of the Day