For many of you, this blog has become a path to my opinions
in the world of sports and a gateway to my podcast, the Cincinnati Fast
Break. And while that experience has
been a rewarding and necessary experience I always felt that I had more to give
than just sports. Let’s be honest:
sports are great. It can often be a good
way to escape from the troubles of our modern society or can be something that
brings unity and pride to a community and fan base. But when you get down to brass tacks, there’s
more to life than just sports. My career
has been focused around such enterprises; from ticket sales, to fan
entertainment, and now, what I hope is the final frontier, the broadcasting of
sports-based programming. I love sports,
even perhaps a bit too much at times, but there is more to life. So as of now this blog is becoming a little
more open to other topics. Sports will
still have their place, but I know that there are people who want to hear about
my life here in Connecticut working for the Worldwide Leader, and I wish to
have the ability to give opinions on other things, things that matter to
me. And if you don’t like it then spend
your time online elsewhere.
As I write this particular entry, I’m about an hour removed
from viewing the finale to Christopher Nolan’s take on the Batman
franchise. The Dark Knight Rises was nearly flawless in many regards. From the script to the moving musical score
to the brilliant acting performances from an all-star cast, TDKR delivers nothing short of a
masterpiece that should be swimming in Oscar gold come February. I’m not going to give away the plot but some
of the themes presented in this film, and its two predecessors, are too often overlooked
and overshadowed by the movie industry as a whole. Despite his flaws, Bruce Wayne/Batman
displays virtues that we all should be aspiring to: perseverance, dedication,
and, most importantly, self-sacrifice for the well-being of others. These days it’s rare to see someone sacrifice
their own pleasure for the good of those around them, much less the ones they
love. I’m on record as saying that if
everyone was a little less selfish and was a little more open to
self-sacrifice, the world would be a better place. Make no mistake, this is NOT a call to
socialism or to live your life in squalor, but every now and then just think of
someone else’s needs before your own.
Maybe be a little nicer to someone when it would be easier to become
angry or have the courage to call out a friend or family member when they’re
partaking in destructive behaviors. I
know the ability to sacrifice comes easier to me in certain situations than
others, but I know that it can make life easier for me and those I surround myself
with.
This concept of obedience and sacrifice is also one of the
pillars of Christianity, one that too many of us choose to ignore far too
often. Times are tough and we’re all
being forced to look out for our own interests more and more every day. However, it’s times like these that we need
to have the compassion of Christ even more, to help out our neighbors and to
expect nothing in return. As Fr. James
Reutter, my pastor at Our Lady of Victory back in Cincinnati, would say, a
little blind kindness makes the world a better place to see. I understand the lack of desire to help those
who may not bring anything to our lives, it’s only human nature, but it’s
really necessary for our own personal growth and development. Besides all that, it helps to bring us closer
to Christ when we aren’t partaking in the sacraments. One big disappointment I have about life here
in Connecticut is the fact that only TWO parishes in the ENTIRE STATE offer
adoration, and both are about an hour from where I live here in Bristol, soon
to be New Britain. So the needs to get
additional graces are going to be at a premium since one of my favorite ways to
interact with the Lord is not available to me.
Despite the flaws of the parishes here in central
Connecticut, it has been the presence of so many Catholic parishes here that
has kept me strong during this time of transition. Moving up here hasn’t been as emotionally
taxing as I would have originally thought; the love and support of my family
and friends has been paramount in keeping me focused and calm. It also helps that many of my new co-workers
have been supremely welcoming and generous to help me learn the ins and outs of
the ESPN culture. It is a very different
place when you set foot on the Mothership; there’s just an air of success that
surrounds the place. I’m very blessed to
be working for such an accomplished company, the true leader when it comes to
sports broadcasting. Is it perfect? Of course not. But to deny ESPN the respect and credit
they’re due is just ignorant. I’ve had
many misconceptions about the company dispelled here in my first two weeks of
work, spare me your brain washing jokes, and I realize that it’s really about
the talented and passionate people that work here that make ESPN so
successful. Most are so happy when they
come to work on a daily basis and it all starts and ends with the way the
company invests in people. Disney, the
parent company of ESPN, realizes that if you do the little things right and
take care of your employees, they in turn will be happier and work harder as a result.
After all that I’ve been through in the past few years, one
might think that I’m ready to settle in and enjoy the ride that I’ve chosen to
experience. But this is only the
beginning. I have a true hunger and
desire to truly become the best person I can be; who God is calling me to truly
be. It’s a more holistic approach to
life that I’m aspiring to these days: becoming healthier once and for all, to
have success in my career, to find a wife and start a family, and, most
importantly, to grow closer to and deeper in love with Jesus Christ. I don’t believe this to be some pie in the
sky notion, it’s what God is calling me to be, and hopefully I’m strong enough
to be an example of His love through my words and actions.
Feel free to drop me a line on Facebook or Twitter (@Chuges);
I’d love to hear from you. If you have
any suggestions or ideas for the future of this blog, please let me know. I can’t improve unless I get some
constructive criticism every now and then.
May God grant you His peace and His blessings. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us!
