| REGISTER TO WIN | |
 |
Forgive me if this reads like a blog. Sometimes I have to tell you what I’m feeling and going through so you can understand the silly opinions I offer in this space from time to time.
Man, that sounded really feminine. I promise it will get more masculine from here.
The problem with having too much is that it makes you fantasize about having nothing.
That’s why I’m here, in Florida, trying to survive with as little as possible, trying to disconnect from the sports world, the Playboy magazine mess and all my other skirmishes.
I’m desperately trying to go cold turkey on everything: sports, cell phones, television, laptop, newspapers, Gates short ends, car and Rev. Wright.
It’s quite possibly the most difficult thing I’ve ever attempted.
It all started a couple of weeks ago when I began reading the book Into the Wild, a well-reported chronicle of a 24-year-old kid who chucked everything — money, family and belongings — and walked into the Alaskan wilderness hoping to test and discover himself all at the same time. He died within a matter of months, and author Jon Krakauer retraced his last days on earth.
I’m positive my excursion will have a happier ending. JoPo won’t be documenting my last days in the Florida wild by interviewing fast-food servers up and down the Florida coast.
No, I’m roughing it in a far more sensible fashion — in a big group, with people with lots of experience and expertise. Plus, the maid service at this four-star, all-natural bed-and-breakfast is quite comforting. (I hope you weren’t foolish enough to think I would stay in a tent with the size of mosquitoes down here.)
I’m here to recharge. I need a short break to figure out what’s really important and recover from an incredible run of great stories to document. You know, I’ve been bouncing from one sporting event to the next pretty much nonstop for 18 years. I’ve been glued to a TV watching games for three decades.
It doesn’t feel old. I still love the games. Kansas’ ride to the national championship was almost as much fun as the buildup to the Mizzou-Kansas border war in football.
The little things still tickle me, too. Trust me, I had a long conversation with Dr. B.A. Homer about Bob Gretz having his upper lip removed from Carl Peterson’s backside when KCFX dumped The Artist Formerly Known as King Carl’s Mouthpiece from the Chiefs’ radio broadcast. I’ll be sharing that conversation soon. But I was sort of hoping the Chiefs would finish the deed and eliminate Gretz’s drivel from the team’s Web site, which would set both of Gretz’s lips free to roam Kansas City in search of a new meal ticket.
Maybe David Glass will hire Gretz as a Wal-Mart greeter.
I’m sorry. This whole reconnection with Mother Earth is supposed to make me more positive and uplifting.
One week in, I’m mostly frustrated, cranky and jonesing for Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, Tim Duncan and Chris Paul.
This is the first time I can ever remember not watching the NBA playoffs. I picked the worst time in my life to be spontaneous. I’ve been anticipating these playoffs for three months, ever since the Lakers traded for Pau Gasol and the Suns acquired Shaq.
And now I have no clue what’s happening. Oh, I occasionally cheat, jump on the Internet and check out a box score. I know LeBron James’ lack of a low-post scoring game is killing the Cavaliers. But it’s killing me not to watch.
I will not miss the NBA finals, especially if it’s the Lakers and the Celtics. That will take me back to my childhood, back to when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird made the NBA must-see TV, back to when my love of sports is pretty much all I had.
I miss having nothing. Now I have two cell phones that ring and text all the time. I have multiple e-mail addresses that never run empty. There are a thousand blogs, newspapers and Web sites that distract me hourly.
I’m constantly analyzing rather than enjoying the games. That’s what I’ve figured out so far, after taking a brief step away from sports. Sometimes I’d rather be you, a fan free to turn my brain off and just cut loose.
Join the discussion
Share your observations and experiences about news. Lively, open debate is the goal, but please refrain from personal attacks or comments that are racist, vulgar or otherwise inappropriate. If you see an inappropriate comment, please click the "Report as violation" link to notify a KansasCity.com editor. Thanks for your feedback.