Category Archives: Life
A gut call and it worked out
The Panthers were coming off back-to-back shutout losses and were tied 3-3 with the NY Rangers at home… 10 minutes left in regulation.
The number for -1.5 was just too big for me to ignore. I’ve seen how the better team is tied in the third and then scores the go-ahead goal and then adds an empty-netter. It was a risk here but I took it. It won.
Shortly after I took it (I saw it with 10 mins left), Florida scored. The Panthers got the empty-net goal with less than a minute left.
Turning Silence into Strength: How I Finished “Baseball Card Heroes” Without the Support I Thought I Needed
Sometimes in life, we expect certain people to be there for us—the friends, family, and mentors we rely on to cheer us on and offer support. We tell ourselves, “If they just believed in me, I could accomplish anything.” But what happens when the people we think will stand beside us aren’t there when we need them the most?
This is my story of finishing my book, Baseball Card Heroes, even though I felt like the world around me was silent… and even though the friends I thought would support me didn’t show up the way I imagined.
I’d been working on my book for a long time—Baseball Card Heroes has been a dream of mine for years. It’s not just another sports book. It’s a love letter to the game, a tribute to the players who have inspired me, shaped my life, and taught me about perseverance. Writing it was not just about documenting baseball history; it was a personal journey, a way for me to connect with my heroes and, in some small way, become one myself.
But here’s the truth: when I started, I thought I’d have the support I needed. I envisioned long conversations with friends about ideas, people rooting for me, offering encouragement. Instead, I faced silence. No replies to my messages. No feedback. It felt like I was walking this journey alone, and at times, I wondered whether my dream was even worth chasing.
There were days when I wanted to give up, days when I questioned whether I could continue without that external validation. It’s a tough feeling to want to share something you’re passionate about, only to hear crickets in return. I thought about all those moments where friends had cheered me on in the past and wondered why they couldn’t do the same now.
I asked myself: Why do I need them? Why do I need their approval to validate this passion?
The answer came slowly but surely: I don’t need them to make this dream come true.
As much as I had hoped for that external encouragement, I had to turn inward. I had to dig deeper, rely on my own belief in the project, and trust that if I kept working, kept writing, I would finish this book—regardless of the silence surrounding me.
With each chapter I wrote, the absence of external validation became less important. Instead of looking for applause from others, I focused on what I was doing. I thought about the heroes who had inspired me—the athletes, the legends, the underdogs—and I realized that this book was about them. This was my gift to the game, my way of giving back to something I loved so deeply.
I didn’t need anyone else to tell me it was worth it.
And then, the day came. I had written the final sentence of Baseball Card Heroes. There was no big celebration. No party. No high fives. I sat in my chair, quietly, with the realization that I’d done it—despite the silence. Despite the moments of doubt. Despite the friends who didn’t show up in the way I thought they would.
It wasn’t about them. It was about me. And it was about the heroes who had shaped my life.
Finishing Baseball Card Heroes taught me a powerful lesson: Sometimes, the only person you need to believe in you is yourself. The journey isn’t always going to be easy, and the people you think will cheer you on might not be there when you need them the most. But that doesn’t mean you can’t finish. It doesn’t mean your dreams are any less valid.
If you have something you’re passionate about, something that drives you—even if you feel like you’re doing it alone—keep going. You don’t need anyone’s permission. The only thing you need is to keep moving forward, even if it feels like you’re the only one in the room.
As for me, I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. The journey wasn’t easy, but it was mine. And the silence? It just became the background noise to the story I was telling—one about perseverance, passion, and the realization that sometimes, you’re your own biggest fan.
Baseball Card Heroes is now finished, and I’m more excited than ever to share it with the world. But the most important thing I learned along the way was that it was never about waiting for others to believe in me. It was about believing in myself.
And that, in the end, is all I really needed.
Overcoming Adversity: A Hockey Play-by-Play Announcer’s Tale
I am proud to say that I do play-by-play announcing as a side job on weekends. It’s something I look forward to every Saturday and Sunday.
Now, in any given season, we often find ourselves facing challenges that seem to come out of nowhere. For those of us in sports media, the unpredictability of each event can turn even the most routine game into a test of our adaptability, patience, and resilience. Recently, I had one of those experiences—an event that tested my ability to overcome adversity, but ultimately reaffirmed why I love what I do.
As a play-by-play announcer for a local amateur hockey team, I’ve always prided myself on creating a great experience for fans, whether they’re in the stands or watching from home. That’s why I put a lot of focus on making sure the camera angles are clear, the equipment is set up properly, and the broadcast runs smoothly.
However, in a recent game, things didn’t go as planned.
Arriving at the arena that day, I was greeted by a surprising sight: the stands, which are normally there and the place where the equipment is set up, had been removed. Instead, there was a single tower left in its place. As someone who has a fear of heights, this immediately put me on edge. I rely on my usual spot to set up the camera and equipment, and now I had no access to it. I was not about to climb up the tower; besides, I would not be able to carry the equipment up safely.
Naturally, I contacted the operations staff to ask for assistance, hoping that someone would be able to help me get the setup back to something that was closer to being normal. As a possible solution, I asked specifically if a scissor lift, a mechanical device which the facility had, could be provided. Unfortunately, I was met with a lack of understanding, as they were either unable or unwilling to offer a solution, not even allowing access to the scissor lift. I asked if there was anybody else I could speak with, but the answer was no. It became clear that I would need to find a way to make do with what I had.
As if that wasn’t enough, the camera person assigned to cover the game wasn’t there either. There had apparently been a miscommunication about the scheduling between him and the team manager (who was out of town for other team-related matters), so the camera person I was counting on was absent. The team manager quickly scrambled to call in a fill-in camera operator, but that person didn’t arrive until five minutes after the game started.
At this point, I realized I was on my own. The game was about to begin, and the situation wasn’t ideal, to say the least. Without my usual elevated platform, I was forced to set up my equipment just above the ice level. As you can imagine, this drastically impacted the view of the game for both me and the viewers who had paid to watch the game that was being streamed.
To make matters worse, the parents at home, who were eager to watch their kids play, quickly voiced their displeasure by contacting the streaming company. They couldn’t see the action clearly, and they let the people in charge know it in no uncertain terms. I was made aware of these concerns during the first period via text messages and emails. There was a lot of frustration in the air, and it would have been easy to let that affect my focus.
But instead of letting the situation get the best of me, I decided to take it in stride. I focused on what I could control—the broadcast. I kept my commentary clear and engaging (as best as I could), doing my best to paint a picture for viewers at home who couldn’t attend the game. I stayed calm, even as the setup wasn’t ideal, and did my job with the same professionalism I always strive for.
Adversity is a part of life. In sports, it’s something athletes face every day, whether it’s an injury, a tough opponent, or an unexpected setback. As someone who works behind the scenes, I’ve realized that adversity can happen at any time, and it’s how we respond that truly matters.
When things go wrong, it’s easy to get frustrated, discouraged, or upset. But in those moments, the best thing you can do is adapt. Embrace the challenges, find solutions, and do your best. It might not be perfect, and it might not go according to plan, but that’s where growth happens.
For me, the lesson was clear: no matter what obstacles are thrown my way, I can always rely on my ability to do the job, even when things aren’t ideal. And sometimes, that’s all you can do—give it your best effort, stay positive, and keep moving forward.
Looking back, I’m proud of how I handled the situation. Despite the difficulties, I remained focused and delivered a broadcast that allowed viewers to enjoy the game, even if the camera angles weren’t what they were used to. I learned that overcoming adversity isn’t about making everything perfect—it’s about pushing through and doing the best you can, regardless of the circumstances.
Every day is an opportunity to grow and improve. And when life throws you a curveball, you have two choices: let it knock you down or rise above it. I chose to rise above it—and that, to me, is the true essence of overcoming adversity.
Why I Don’t Normally Take the Bus
I typically take Uber or Lyft for a few reasons—mainly for convenience and to avoid dealing with the unpleasantness of public transit. After all, when you’re in a car with just one other person, it’s usually a lot more comfortable than being crammed into a bus with a crowd of strangers. But today, I decided to take the bus to save a little money. And well, this decision was a reminder of why I usually avoid it.
As I was approaching the bus stop, there were already two people waiting. Then, just before I got there, a grown man arrived—he was the third person to show up. The bus came shortly after, and instead of waiting in line like the rest of us, this guy rushed right up to the doors and got on without any regard for the line. It was frustrating to watch. I don’t know if it’s entitlement, impatience, or both, but it was just rude.
That was bad (and yes, I’m aware it happens many, many times, every single day), but it got worse once I was on the bus.
I found a seat facing the back window, so I wasn’t directly across from anyone. But in my line of sight, there was this grown man with his female companion. His seat was facing the left window, and from where I sat, I could see him doing something incredibly gross. This man, without any shame, began putting his fingers into his mouth like he was flossing. Flossing. On a public bus. He did this repeatedly—put his fingers in his mouth, pulled them out, and wiped them on his hair. Then, as if that wasn’t gross enough, he put those same fingers back into his mouth, and later wiped them on his pants. The entire thing was just… disgusting.
I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. Public spaces already feel a little more uncomfortable since COVID, but seeing someone behave like that just reminded me why I avoid public transportation. It’s not just about the hygiene (though that’s a big part of it), it’s also about the lack of consideration for others.
And no, I don’t want to drive. I get it, driving might seem like an easy alternative, but sometimes it’s just easier to let someone else handle the driving. But public transit, especially after everything that’s happened, is just not worth the hassle for me anymore.
At the end of the day, I’m sticking with ride-sharing. It’s cleaner, quieter, and, most importantly, a lot more respectful.
The Manager Didn’t Appreciate Me: A Tale of Frustration and Unfair Treatment
There are moments in your career that make you question whether your efforts are truly valued, and for me, those moments came all too frequently. From trying to take time off to move into a new apartment to dealing with a lack of communication and support, my experience with my manager left me feeling unappreciated and, frankly, disrespected.
It all started when I was preparing for a big move. Moving is stressful enough, but I also had a job to balance. I requested several days off to pack and get settled, hoping that my boss would understand the importance of this personal task. Instead, I was granted a grand total of four hours. Four hours to pack up my entire life and move it into a new apartment—hardly enough time to even get started. To make matters worse, I watched as other colleagues were granted more generous time off for personal reasons. One teacher was allowed to take time off for a trip to San Diego, and another was given several weeks off to go on a missionary trip to Guatemala. But when it came to my request, I was treated like an afterthought.
The disparity in treatment became even more evident in the day-to-day management of the workplace. I remember one time, I was eating lunch at the mall food court when I received a call from the manager’s assistant, begging me to go cover a class. The catch? I hadn’t been told about the class beforehand. I quickly grabbed an Uber and made my way to the class, which ended up being only 1.5 hours. The lack of communication and foresight was infuriating, yet I still went out of my way to help out.
Then there was the time I asked for time off to call a hockey game on a random Wednesday night. I thought it was a simple request, one that wouldn’t cause any issues. After all, I had informed both the manager and the assistant well in advance. But when that night came around, I was bombarded with texts and calls asking why I wasn’t in class. I explained that I had asked for the night off to pursue my passion for hockey announcing, something I thought they’d understand and maybe even be proud of. Instead, they responded by telling me to tell my student that I was “sick” and couldn’t make it. Not only was I being asked to lie, but it also became clear that the issue wasn’t my absence—it was their failure to manage their schedule properly.
Months later, as I found myself being phased out of the job, the frustration continued to mount. I requested a schedule from the assistant, hoping for clarity and some semblance of organization. Instead, I was met with attitude and was completely disregarded. She forgot that just a few months prior, I had dropped everything I was doing at the food court and taken an Uber to cover a class due to her own incompetence and lack of communication. Yet, instead of appreciating my dedication, I was met with disrespect and a lack of professionalism.
The atmosphere at the front desk only added to my growing dissatisfaction. Instead of fostering a productive and professional environment, the front desk was often filled with giggling and idle chatter, which felt like a distraction from the job at hand. There was a complete lack of seriousness and accountability in how they managed the business, and it made my job increasingly difficult.
In the end, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had been taken for granted. My efforts to go above and beyond were ignored, and the inconsistencies in how requests were handled left me feeling undervalued. It’s a frustrating realization when you put in the work and go the extra mile, only to be met with incompetence and indifference from the very people you’re trying to support. This experience has taught me a lot about knowing my worth, setting boundaries, and not accepting treatment that doesn’t reflect the effort I put in.
It’s a shame that so many workplaces fail to appreciate their employees, but I now know that I deserve better than to be treated this way. I can only hope that in the future, I find a place that values my time, my contributions, and my passion. Until then, I’m taking this lesson with me and ensuring that I never again settle for less than I deserve.
k. p. wee 