Some guys that I play baseball with do not like it when you keep track of personal stats. I tend to disagree because if you do not have any goals, then how can you accomplish anything? Baseball is about team unity and reaching goals as a team. However, without some of the best players, then you are not going anywhere as a team.
Last week, I played in the MSBL Fall Classic in Southern Florida. My team was the Triad Jagwires. We are a mix of players from North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Unfortunately, we went 0 and 5 for the tournament. I batted lead off and got 10 hits in 16 at bats which is a .625 batting average. My personal goal for the week was to get 10 hits. I reached my goal, but it wasn't enough. The majority of the other players did not hit well. Our pitching wasn't very solid either. Only one game was close.
I hit a home run. It was an inside the park home run although I think I hit it about 370 feet to the left center field gap. It hit the warning track and the fence on one hop. Funny thing is that I also played in the MSBL World Series a couple of weeks prior and I also hit an inside the park home run in that tournament. I played with the infamous Arkansas Diamonds. This was one of the best teams that I ever played on. I do not have the final stats, but I think I stole at least 15 bases during that tournament.
My point is that my way to help the team is to have pre-defined goals. If I don't have personal goals, then how do I know how I can help the team? If you want to be sure and not achieve anything, then do not set any personal goals. You will just drift through life without knowing where you are going.
Baseball players have big egos, myself included. However, if I did not believe that I could get 10 hits or steal 15 bases, then why should I even go to these tournaments. I go because achievement of my personal goals is how I become a team player.
Showing posts with label Baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baseball. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Are you having any fun?
The television is full of negatives these days. Greece, Spain and the rest of Europe are struggling to figure out how they can calm their markets. The US markets seems to have a knee jerk reaction to every bit of news out of Europe. Sometimes you have to step back and take a different view of things.
Can you or I really control what is going on in Europe? Can we control what is going on in the US markets? No, so why worry about it? Jesus taught us how foolish it is to worry. He said look at the birds in the sky. God takes care of them and he will take care of you also. There is no need to worry.
Can we control what we watch on television? Yes we can. Think about this. If the Dow Jones goes up 100 points or down a 100 points should that really make you happy or sad? Where are your priorities if your happiness, (or sadness for that matter) is dictated by what happens to the Dow Jones Industrial Average?
If this sounds like you, then you need to step out and have some fun. What is it that you really like to do? Is it walking, volunteering, teaching or mentoring others, spending time with your kids or grand kids? Whatever it is, then go do it and that is an order!
In my case, my stress release is baseball. As crazy as it seems, I am turning 56 this year and I play baseball. For me, it is a great outlet to have some fun. This Memorial Day Weekend, I drove 6 hours to Atlanta to play baseball with some baseball buddies from Savannah, GA. Who do you know that drives 6 hours to play baseball?
The Savannah guys were kind enough to allow me to play with them, when I have not done so in the past on this particular team. One of my friends, threw me right into the frying pan by telling the coach that I was a lead off hitter and left fielder. When the line up card came out, I was playing left field and batting lead off. In case you do not know, batting lead off is a very key position in baseball. You are the one that has to start the game off with a bang. Your teammates are depending on you to get a hit, lay down a bunt or do whatever it takes to get on base. In my case, I had the added pressure of performing for my friends sake. I could not let him down, so I didn't.
In the four games that we played, I had a triple, three doubles and three singles, plus I got on base two other times. I hit .467 with a .600 on base percentage, scored several runs and had a few RBI's. Two of my hits were close to going out of the park. (I need more muscles!) I had seven hits in four games which ended up being one of the most hits on the team. Not bad for an old guy. Now that is how you have some fun!
Life is short. Go have some fun and quit living your life watching television.
Can you or I really control what is going on in Europe? Can we control what is going on in the US markets? No, so why worry about it? Jesus taught us how foolish it is to worry. He said look at the birds in the sky. God takes care of them and he will take care of you also. There is no need to worry.
Can we control what we watch on television? Yes we can. Think about this. If the Dow Jones goes up 100 points or down a 100 points should that really make you happy or sad? Where are your priorities if your happiness, (or sadness for that matter) is dictated by what happens to the Dow Jones Industrial Average?
If this sounds like you, then you need to step out and have some fun. What is it that you really like to do? Is it walking, volunteering, teaching or mentoring others, spending time with your kids or grand kids? Whatever it is, then go do it and that is an order!
In my case, my stress release is baseball. As crazy as it seems, I am turning 56 this year and I play baseball. For me, it is a great outlet to have some fun. This Memorial Day Weekend, I drove 6 hours to Atlanta to play baseball with some baseball buddies from Savannah, GA. Who do you know that drives 6 hours to play baseball?
The Savannah guys were kind enough to allow me to play with them, when I have not done so in the past on this particular team. One of my friends, threw me right into the frying pan by telling the coach that I was a lead off hitter and left fielder. When the line up card came out, I was playing left field and batting lead off. In case you do not know, batting lead off is a very key position in baseball. You are the one that has to start the game off with a bang. Your teammates are depending on you to get a hit, lay down a bunt or do whatever it takes to get on base. In my case, I had the added pressure of performing for my friends sake. I could not let him down, so I didn't.
In the four games that we played, I had a triple, three doubles and three singles, plus I got on base two other times. I hit .467 with a .600 on base percentage, scored several runs and had a few RBI's. Two of my hits were close to going out of the park. (I need more muscles!) I had seven hits in four games which ended up being one of the most hits on the team. Not bad for an old guy. Now that is how you have some fun!
Life is short. Go have some fun and quit living your life watching television.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Derek Jeter May Actually Owe Taxes on Historic Baseball
There was a story out today that Christian Lopez, the guy who caught and returned the ball to Derek Jeter may owe approximately $14,000 in taxes. He apparently received approximately $50,000 in return for the baseball in the way of season tickets at Yankee Stadium, some bats, and other memorabilia. However, in my opinion, Mr. Lopez is getting some bad tax advice, because actually it is Mr. Jeter who may owe the taxes.
Under IRS rules, people are allowed to barter or exchange collectibles. The IRS expects that when two people barter and exchange of collectibles, then the one who has a gain in value has to report that gain on their tax return.
Let us look at this case a little more carefully. In this case, Mr. Lopez caught the ball, therefore he was the rightful owner of it. After the baseball game, Mr. Lopez met Mr. Jeter and gave him the historic baseball. In exchange, Mr. Lopez received several items.
When you really look at this from Mr. Lopez's standpoint, the value of the baseball was probably worth more than the four items received in exchange. If it was worth say $100,000 for example, then Mr. Lopez needs to give Mr. Jeter a 1099 B for the difference in value. According to a New York Times article on this subject, the four items received by Mr. Lopez in exchange from Mr. Jeter was worth approximately $50,000. Therefore, Mr. Lopez could possibly give Mr. Jeter a 1099 B for the $50,000 difference in my example. Also, Mr. Lopez would not owe any taxes. Instead, Mr. Jeter would owe the taxes.
Here is the New York Times article link.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/nyregion/fan-may-owe-taxes-for-claiming-jeters-3000th-hit.html
Only if the baseball was valued at less than the items Mr. Lopez received in exchange for the baseball, would he then owe taxes. The Pawn Stars show star, Rick Harrison was quoted as saying that he would have given him roughly $30,000 to $40,000 for the baseball. In this case, if Mr. Lopez sold it outright, then he would owe taxes on whatever he received for the sale. However, a sale never took place. To me, this was clearly a barter exchange of collectibles. Also, I fail to see how Mr. Lopez would owe taxes on this barter exchange, because the baseball would easily be valued at $50,000 or more.
I believe people are jumping the gun a little bit on sticking Mr. Lopez with a tax bill. It is surprising to me that a Derek Jeter fan who is also a tax professional has not offered to step in and help Mr. Lopez file the necessary forms for this barter exchange. Come on people. I cannot be the only one in the country who knows this fact. If you happen to know Mr. Lopez, then maybe you might want to do him a favor and forward him a link to this blog.
I have a Niekro brothers autographed baseball that I might do a barter exchange with Mr. Lopez for one of those Derek Jeter baseballs. I could even throw in a Colorado Silver Bullets women's autographed baseball too. That sounds like a fair barter exchange value for value.
Under IRS rules, people are allowed to barter or exchange collectibles. The IRS expects that when two people barter and exchange of collectibles, then the one who has a gain in value has to report that gain on their tax return.
Let us look at this case a little more carefully. In this case, Mr. Lopez caught the ball, therefore he was the rightful owner of it. After the baseball game, Mr. Lopez met Mr. Jeter and gave him the historic baseball. In exchange, Mr. Lopez received several items.
- Four Champion Suites tickets for the remainder of the season.
- Three autographed baseball bats.
- Three autographed baseballs.
- Four front row Legends seats for a game at Yankee Stadium.
When you really look at this from Mr. Lopez's standpoint, the value of the baseball was probably worth more than the four items received in exchange. If it was worth say $100,000 for example, then Mr. Lopez needs to give Mr. Jeter a 1099 B for the difference in value. According to a New York Times article on this subject, the four items received by Mr. Lopez in exchange from Mr. Jeter was worth approximately $50,000. Therefore, Mr. Lopez could possibly give Mr. Jeter a 1099 B for the $50,000 difference in my example. Also, Mr. Lopez would not owe any taxes. Instead, Mr. Jeter would owe the taxes.
Here is the New York Times article link.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/nyregion/fan-may-owe-taxes-for-claiming-jeters-3000th-hit.html
Only if the baseball was valued at less than the items Mr. Lopez received in exchange for the baseball, would he then owe taxes. The Pawn Stars show star, Rick Harrison was quoted as saying that he would have given him roughly $30,000 to $40,000 for the baseball. In this case, if Mr. Lopez sold it outright, then he would owe taxes on whatever he received for the sale. However, a sale never took place. To me, this was clearly a barter exchange of collectibles. Also, I fail to see how Mr. Lopez would owe taxes on this barter exchange, because the baseball would easily be valued at $50,000 or more.
I believe people are jumping the gun a little bit on sticking Mr. Lopez with a tax bill. It is surprising to me that a Derek Jeter fan who is also a tax professional has not offered to step in and help Mr. Lopez file the necessary forms for this barter exchange. Come on people. I cannot be the only one in the country who knows this fact. If you happen to know Mr. Lopez, then maybe you might want to do him a favor and forward him a link to this blog.
I have a Niekro brothers autographed baseball that I might do a barter exchange with Mr. Lopez for one of those Derek Jeter baseballs. I could even throw in a Colorado Silver Bullets women's autographed baseball too. That sounds like a fair barter exchange value for value.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
A Lesson About Stepping Up in the Clutch
If you were to listen to the investment pundits on television, then they would tell you that there is going to be runaway inflation. They all say the same thing. The Federal Reserve is printing money like it is going out of style so, as a result, you can expect runaway inflation.Well, I have news for you. Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve Board is not going to let inflation get anywhere near a runaway train. I think they will succeed in keeping interest rates low for an extended period of time.
I read a great article from Scott Minerd, the Chief Investment Officer at Guggenheim Partners, LLC. the article was entitled, 'The Urban Legend of the Bond Bubble.' In his view, we are in for more of a period like the 1940's. This was a period when the 10 year U.S. Treasury Bond averaged a paltry yield of under 2.00% for the entire decade of the 1940's. He believes that we are in a similar situation today. I tend to agree.
Think about the fact that the Great Depression took a long and I mean long time to recover. They tried everything to get the economy moving. It took a World War to put people back to work. After all, the real problem of the Great Depression was a lack of jobs. Which reminds me of the situation today. It is a similar lack of jobs.
Ponder, if you will that in order to create jobs, you have to incentivize the private sector of the economy with access to capital to grow, low interest rates and low taxes. Lest we not forget we need someone willing to buy what we are selling, also. This was the same problem created by the Great Depression.
I will certainly agree that we are able to recover much more quickly from the Great Recession than they did after the Great Depression. Our country is much more technologically advanced and productive today. However, I think we will see the yield on the 10 year U.S. Treasury move closer to 2.00% than 3.00%.
One thing that I have learned over the years is that the smartest guys in the room are not the smartest guys in the room. They are just winging it. Sad, but true. They are just better at winging it than most people.
Let me tell you a baseball story involving yours truly that happened several years ago. I played in the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series in Phoenix, Arizona one year and our first game was against the defending World Series Champions. You have never seen the male ego in hyper drive unless you see this event. This World Series Champion team heralded from the great city of Chicago. They had the best players that Chicago had to offer on this team. They had several ex-Major League players and most all the others had played in the Minor Leagues or had stellar college baseball careers.
Our team was a team primarily from Central Arkansas. We had one guy who played AAA and that was about it. The rest of us were just a bunch of country boys who liked to play baseball. Yet, here we were in the first game of the World Series against the defending champions. These guys were shuttling players in and out between innings. They had about 25 players with them and I think we had about 14 on our team. Intimidation was in the air. You could feel it. They were dead set on repeating as World Series Champions. You could tell by the way they were acting. They were confident.
In the fifth inning, they were winning 3 to 1. Us poor old Arkansas guys managed to get the bases loaded, then it was my turn to bat. Chicago called time out and brought in ex-Major Leaguer Tom Gorman to pitch, a former Minnesota Twin. His catcher was Bart Zeller who played with the Chicago Cubs in his career. Then there was me, waiting on the on deck circle for my opportunity at the plate. There was no disputing what my teammates expected me to do for the team. They obviously wanted me to get a hit and knock in some runs. At the same time, Chicago's team had great confidence in shutting this inning down by bringing in the pitching ace Tom Gorman. This guy was blowing some serious gas. He was throwing low nineties easy. Somebody was going to win this battle and somebody was going to lose. The odds favored Chicago by a country mile.
I was watching him warm up and he appeared to have two pitches. A slider which he was not able to get over during warmups and a fastball that was buddy you better believe it, fast.
This is a point in your life where you say, "Am I going to step up or am I going to let this intimidate me?" The first pitch was a slider in the dirt. I could see by the look on Tom Gorman's face that he didn't have confidence in that pitch, so I figured he would come with the fastball and try to blow it past me. I guessed right. I hit an opposite field grand slam off of him and we went ahead 5 to 3. You would not believe how demoralized those Chicago guys were after that grand slam. They just could not believe that a guy like me, who only played baseball as a kid up to age 15, could hit a grand slam off their ace. Ever hear that baseball is 90% mental and 10% ability? It's true, although I can hang with the best of them in baseball ability.
We went on to win the game and some of the guys on my team were telling me for days afterwards that "that ball is still going!" Chicago never recovered the rest of the week. They failed to repeat as World Series Champions. Although we did not win the World Series, it was certainly a gratifying experience to beat the World Series Champions and to do it in such a dramatic way.
Which brings me back to my point. A lot of times when I watch some of my peers on television giving advice, I sit back and notice that these guys are just winging it. They are not the smartest guys in the room. Yet, a lot of people put a ton of credence into what they say. My advice would be to be careful about listening to these advisors.
I just smile to myself knowing that I can play with the big leaguers, come through in the clutch and I am probably a little smarter than they will ever know.
I read a great article from Scott Minerd, the Chief Investment Officer at Guggenheim Partners, LLC. the article was entitled, 'The Urban Legend of the Bond Bubble.' In his view, we are in for more of a period like the 1940's. This was a period when the 10 year U.S. Treasury Bond averaged a paltry yield of under 2.00% for the entire decade of the 1940's. He believes that we are in a similar situation today. I tend to agree.
Think about the fact that the Great Depression took a long and I mean long time to recover. They tried everything to get the economy moving. It took a World War to put people back to work. After all, the real problem of the Great Depression was a lack of jobs. Which reminds me of the situation today. It is a similar lack of jobs.
Ponder, if you will that in order to create jobs, you have to incentivize the private sector of the economy with access to capital to grow, low interest rates and low taxes. Lest we not forget we need someone willing to buy what we are selling, also. This was the same problem created by the Great Depression.
I will certainly agree that we are able to recover much more quickly from the Great Recession than they did after the Great Depression. Our country is much more technologically advanced and productive today. However, I think we will see the yield on the 10 year U.S. Treasury move closer to 2.00% than 3.00%.
One thing that I have learned over the years is that the smartest guys in the room are not the smartest guys in the room. They are just winging it. Sad, but true. They are just better at winging it than most people.
Let me tell you a baseball story involving yours truly that happened several years ago. I played in the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series in Phoenix, Arizona one year and our first game was against the defending World Series Champions. You have never seen the male ego in hyper drive unless you see this event. This World Series Champion team heralded from the great city of Chicago. They had the best players that Chicago had to offer on this team. They had several ex-Major League players and most all the others had played in the Minor Leagues or had stellar college baseball careers.
Our team was a team primarily from Central Arkansas. We had one guy who played AAA and that was about it. The rest of us were just a bunch of country boys who liked to play baseball. Yet, here we were in the first game of the World Series against the defending champions. These guys were shuttling players in and out between innings. They had about 25 players with them and I think we had about 14 on our team. Intimidation was in the air. You could feel it. They were dead set on repeating as World Series Champions. You could tell by the way they were acting. They were confident.
In the fifth inning, they were winning 3 to 1. Us poor old Arkansas guys managed to get the bases loaded, then it was my turn to bat. Chicago called time out and brought in ex-Major Leaguer Tom Gorman to pitch, a former Minnesota Twin. His catcher was Bart Zeller who played with the Chicago Cubs in his career. Then there was me, waiting on the on deck circle for my opportunity at the plate. There was no disputing what my teammates expected me to do for the team. They obviously wanted me to get a hit and knock in some runs. At the same time, Chicago's team had great confidence in shutting this inning down by bringing in the pitching ace Tom Gorman. This guy was blowing some serious gas. He was throwing low nineties easy. Somebody was going to win this battle and somebody was going to lose. The odds favored Chicago by a country mile.
I was watching him warm up and he appeared to have two pitches. A slider which he was not able to get over during warmups and a fastball that was buddy you better believe it, fast.
This is a point in your life where you say, "Am I going to step up or am I going to let this intimidate me?" The first pitch was a slider in the dirt. I could see by the look on Tom Gorman's face that he didn't have confidence in that pitch, so I figured he would come with the fastball and try to blow it past me. I guessed right. I hit an opposite field grand slam off of him and we went ahead 5 to 3. You would not believe how demoralized those Chicago guys were after that grand slam. They just could not believe that a guy like me, who only played baseball as a kid up to age 15, could hit a grand slam off their ace. Ever hear that baseball is 90% mental and 10% ability? It's true, although I can hang with the best of them in baseball ability.
We went on to win the game and some of the guys on my team were telling me for days afterwards that "that ball is still going!" Chicago never recovered the rest of the week. They failed to repeat as World Series Champions. Although we did not win the World Series, it was certainly a gratifying experience to beat the World Series Champions and to do it in such a dramatic way.
Which brings me back to my point. A lot of times when I watch some of my peers on television giving advice, I sit back and notice that these guys are just winging it. They are not the smartest guys in the room. Yet, a lot of people put a ton of credence into what they say. My advice would be to be careful about listening to these advisors.
I just smile to myself knowing that I can play with the big leaguers, come through in the clutch and I am probably a little smarter than they will ever know.
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