Isn't life about change? ...

I dread change. I loathe change. But for me to move forward in my life, I must make some drastic changes. I am considering another Master of Arts degree, a degree to say I could coach at a higher level. I have considered a coaching career, but I am nearly 40 years old. Who will let me work with the outfielders? I would like to add a Master of Arts in coaching to my resume. I have more coaching experience than teaching experience, and I do have a passion for coaching baseball. I would love the opportunity to coach baseball at a higher level, starting as an assistant coach; then, move forward from there. Since it is a new year, a new beginning, I wanted to share some ideas. I may share more as time goes on, but I feel a coaching position would be a dream-come-true! Peace!

My experience in HST 480 (W) ...

My experience in HST 480 (W) was a positive although I may have been viewed as a negative. Dr. K. shared with us his knowledge of history, to go into the history and come away with an understanding not normally seen by the average eye. The one thing I came away from his class with was to “pull out what you need” as I read and prepared for the group project. Dr. K. did a tremendous job of instructing us, and there were times, I felt I not only let myself down, but him as well. The entire project of researching, digging deeper, to learn about the past, to learn about how people respond to the past, and how they move forward are lessons I learned from my classmates in the course, and I enjoyed watching them go through the process.

As I said before, ...

As I said before, I am putting a twist to Dr. K’s example on the individual project page. I decided I would venture into the world of sports entertainment, i.e. professional wrestling. I chose the topic: African-American Professional Wrestlers’ Struggle for Acceptance in White America. I have found numerous books at the MSU Library. Yes, the MSU Library has books on professional wrestling. I have access to multiple Web sites devoted to professional wrestling, showcasing photographs and posters. I can see an exhibit showing numerous wrestling posters and photographs and fliers along one wall. On another wall, I see lined with robes and boots and trunks of African American wrestlers and managers. In one corner, a section of a ring with posts and ropes and steel steps. I now must get Dr. K’s stamp of approval and write this thing within the next several days! Here goes!

My individual project idea ...

My individual project idea is ... The suspense. … The drama. … The idea. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I was interested in many things: theatre, sports such as baseball, and sports entertainment, i.e. professional wrestling. Well, the more I thought about the project, the more I saw myself leaning toward professional wrestling. Then, I re-read the project instructions. I liked the example Dr. K gave of Henry Aaron, and Bam! (My apologies to Emeril Lagasse!) I am working toward African American professional wrestlers and their struggles to gain acceptance in professional wrestling, i.e. sports entertainment, throughout the United States of America. The resources are available at the MSU Library, and I have access to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and its resources on its Web site (http://www.wwe.com/). A month ago, I was dead in the water. I had NOTHING! Now, I feel a little bit better about myself, and I feel I can whip something up over the next few days. I am confident I can achieve a strong proposal and paper for my individual project.

As the semester nears its end, ...

As the semester nears its end, I have nothing! At the start of the semester, I fell behind. I desperately tried to catch up, and now, as we enter the home stretch, I have nothing. I have an idea, but I am afraid to share it. I know I should, but the way this semester has gone, I do not think I can. It is just frustration. I hope as the day goes on, I will come away with a more definite plan of attack, and I have something for tomorrow because I must spend the entire day in the library, gathering and organizing and writing something worthwhile. I need a strong grade, and I hate the position I have put myself in HST 480 (W). ... Grrr!!!

My individual project: additional thoughts ...

I am leaning toward creating a traveling exhibit for sports entertainment, i.e. professional wrestling. I must take the time to re-read the individual project information and try to see what I need to create such a project. I feel confident I can get the work done over the next two weeks and present something worthwhile for History 480 (W) and Dr. K. I will spend the weekend, trying to gather the necessary information and preparing a solid argument for the assignment.

My individual project ...

I have the entire individual project … in my head! I know that is not the answer Dr. K wants, and I know that. My interests range the mundane to the off-the-wall. From baseball to the theatre to the arts to sports entertainment, i.e. professional wrestling, I have a variety of interests. I want to do something with baseball, but professional wrestling is my “silent” love. If the idea is to put together a traveling museum exhibit, either baseball or sports entertainment would provide numerous experiences, i.e. personal histories, memorabilia, photographs, historic film archives, and living legends. I am going to prepare something Tuesday night, Wednesday, and hopefully; I can present something to my colleagues and Dr. K Thursday morning. If all goes well, I can attack this project and produce something credible and worthwhile. Here goes nothing!