Relative Milestones

I was standing nearby when a fellow law student approached my favorite (and most feared) law professor and asked him "Do you remember when I spoke up in class and you [basically humbled me in front of the entire class for 10 uninterrupted minutes and everyone laughed?"  (I merely overheard this by grace it was not I that made this mistake).  With perfect delivery and not an ounce of remorse he said; "No I do not...clearly that was a "moment" in your life and not mine! good day Miss... whatever your name is."

I am sure this sounds like a horrible and arrogant man... which is not entirely false... but the truth in his words very rarely has a lasting negative effect on others.  How can it... It reminds me of the little brother that watched too much Kung Fu/Cartoons and foolishly believes that his 60lbs are enough to retaliate against  his 200lb. brother for thumping him on the head, changing the channel from Ren and Stimpy, or [any of the million tormenting practices of older brothers]... No matter how determined he is, how red his face gets, how violently he screams, or how perfectly he imitates Bruce Lee's Drop-Kick...He should know good and well that his 200lb. brother will catch his leg and he will be dangled helplessly at arms length.  Miss... "Whatever her name is" was not equipped to approach Mr. Law Professor, no matter how determined she was to feel better about what happened.  For what its worth... I told her I remembered and that I laughed... I don't think that I made her feel better.

I defend his response because if he would have instead had a chuckle with her and reflected on how funny it (he) was... She may have gotten the impression that he enjoys making other people look foolish and even dwells on those moments or worse she may get the impression that she and her "moment" were more significant than the other 120 people and their respective humiliating moment.

I had a moment this week.

I played in a golf tournament to benefit  Els For Autism (http://www.e4agolf.com/).  With 1,700 participants, over 8,000 donors, and nearly $2 million raised this event is the largest charity golf tournament in the world.  The experience was incredible for many reasons and served as a relative milestone in my life.

I know that as time goes on only my teammate and I will remember the event and the excitement of teeing it up with a few of Golf's elite but it will remain a milestone in my life.  The point that I will hold on to is kind of a ceremonial turn.  Golfer's always wonder how they would handle the pressure of a gallery lining the tee box on the first hole of a big tournament.  I have heard people say that it is particularly difficult to even tee the ball much less hit it.  So I got the chance to answer that question last week in Las Vegas with my buddy Jeff Cook, 5 touring professionals, and a few hundred spectators.  I always expected to swing conservatively if faced with this situation.  It did cross my mind, but just in the nick of time, the prudent thought hit me... If you swing easy you are going to either fail miserably or hit a weak little shot... (both kind of stink) If you Swing as hard as you possibly can you are going to either fail miserably or hit it a quarter mile (1/4 mile would not stink)... then
I Swung as hard as I could and got away with it... Hit the ball nearly 400 yards and now have a moment.  What would I do if I had to hit a golf shot with hundreds of people watching?  Swing as hard as I can and hope the result is worth remembering?


I have to mention the simple 10 foot putt I missed on the last hole to lose the match... It was my "cant focus, cant hold still, cant remember how to hold the club moment".  I kinda wonder if it looked like I was having a stroke because it sure felt like it.


boo blundersome.  boo half-assed SIB.

the tim