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Open Thread: Week 26

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Diving right in with Chris‘ question:

Did you ever regret anything you did during a “bench clearing brawl” as its called (but not accurately worded in most cases). It’s easy to get carried away in the heat of the moment, but do you believe that in those instances in your career you were truly backing up your teammates?

Interesting question for this blog, Chris. As you alluded to, a “bench clearing brawl” is usually nothing but a bunch of dudes who don’t really want to fight acting like they do. Quite often, punches are not even thrown. Think about it, how often do you see a sea of bodies, jawing and pushing, but no real action being taken? That’s the clearest possible indication that the men in both uniforms want to appear angry and tough, but really would like to get back to their respective dugouts and discuss what just happened with no blood on their shirts.

Every so often, the desire for violence becomes genuine and you get a real fight on the diamond. That inherent need to scrap may be rooted in evolution. From the Huffington Post:

Charles Darwin noted “the greater size, strength, courage, and pugnacity of the males in most species.” He attributed this to males “having been successful in conquering other males, and thus having left a larger number of offspring to inherit their superiority.”

In other words, if you are a man living on this planet today, it’s only because, for millions of generations, your genetic forebears successfully beat the crap out of their rivals. You are the descendant of champions.

Don’t get mad at me, it’s Darwin’s take.

I’ve taken part in a few of the ugly ones between the lines. For the most part, they’re akin to the neighborhood fracas (I replied to this question just so I could use this word) you may have been in as a teenager or that bar brawl you remember when there were bodies were flying everywhere. They’re chaos, and to that end, I don’t regret my actions at all. In fact, I do feel like I backed up my teammates, and I do feel like they backed me up. Finally, in many ways we were defending ourselves and each other. There was never a sucker punch that I can remember and engagement was mutual for guys wearing grey and white.

The floor is open to your questions or comments. No rules.

Strong Mind,

Kap

  • Tom R.

    I gotta say that the day Varitek shoved Arod in 04 was a game I won’t forget. The Yanks had been pushing the Sox around for a lifetime, and it was almost symbolic what Tek did that day. You guys had to be fired up in that locker room after the outcome of that game. How much of an effect did that moment have on the remainder of that season?

  • gavin

    You recently invited the readers of this blog to engage in more counter discussion of positions you have taken (to paraphrase you). Not your first time, and not surprising to anybody that frequents the KL. I think your mind would spin out of control if you went a day without a challenge, a task to conquer. Have you ever considered the irony of a person in today’s spotlight pleading (need to learn italics in this format) to be critiqued, to be prodded? But that question is not my official (pretend italics) question. With authenticity and transparency ingrained, how much internal and external conflict does this create in what is essentially your high-profile, corporate gig, where some degree of counter behavior will be asked of you quite often? Do you think you can change corporate/business culture more than it can change you?

  • Justin Smith

    Kap,
    I’ve been following the 5 x 5 workout for 6 months using the strong-lifts app. I’m starting to hit some significant stalling in my progress. I have done the deload and work back up and have seen increases. Do you have any thoughts on going to a 3 x 5 or 3 x 3 when hitting these roadblocks or once you get to a certain point in your progress.
    Thanks,
    Justin

  • Darin

    Hey Kap, whats your opinion on training/lifting while sick? I woke up with a cold this week, decided to push through and still complete my workouts. I actually felt better during and after the workouts, but looking back I realize that going to the gym may have been a selfish decision if my germs got anyone else sick. From a different side of things, I have no idea about how the recovery process after a workout affects your immune system. Any thoughts?