The Pivot.

The Pivot

Subtitled “The Return Trip”

The Cast December 1, 2023

By The Fillerbuster

Greetings and salutations, folks.  As always, written quickly and barely edited…

It HAS been a minute.  The theme of this post is The Pivot.  Because of something recent in my personal life, I wanted to examine current stories where a pivot was needed or provided.  It is a paradigm shift.  It is a shift in thinking.  It can be a minor modification, or a game changer.

From Google:

The word evolved yet again in the 19th century to become a verb indicating the act of turning, literally and figuratively, about a point (“The player pivoted and passed the ball”; “The plot pivots on revenge”). In wider extended use, it can imply a change of direction (“The company pivoted towards marketing remote learning tools and resources”).

First, the sports.  I might not cover all of the hot topics, but these are a few I pulled out of the hat for my pivot theme.  It is Pivot Potluck…

• Let’s start with the local pivot.  Jokic has redefined the position on so many levels.  The 80’s and 90’s were about the brute big man with a couple of moves, whether that be the Dream Shake, the Sky Hook, or other.  Then, the 2000’s and 2010’s started the transition to the three-point shooting big, and more positionless basketball.  Shaq and Duncan weathered the early storm, and the Warriors put the exclamation on it.  Jokic has brought back the more traditional big man, but with the first option being PASSING…with a handle like a PG.  It is beautiful, and new, to watch.  He might spend the entire offseason watching and training his horses and drinking six packs of beer while not practicing that much, but his natural and ultra-intelligent approach to the game makes him the best player on the court on any given night.  The NBA is pivoting in trying to figure out how even to guard Nikola.  And just like some kids watched Steph and grew up and changed the game with him, there are some big dudes watching Jokic adjusting their game right…now.
• But, commenting on my selected photo, know that Wemby will have his glory also.
• Another local pivot.  Sure, I bet some of you are laughing that I reposted the Deion post from last year and then he dropped all games after.  Well, he just won SI’s Sportsman of the Year AND deserved it.  Not every great story has a storybook ending.  Sometimes the great story is just a learning experience involving a major pivot.  He definitely provided that pivot.  He needs to add some beef on both lines to hang with the true heavyweights (and maybe shouldn’t have kicked out the WHOLE team), and he lost a couple of recruits recently, but whether you love it or hate him, Colorado football IS a hotbed.
• I love this In-Season Tourney in the NBA.  The players have bought in for the most part, and the fans and media are liking it also.  Cool courts too.  I think they need to figure out a different resolution than point differential in advancing teams to the Knockout Round (as points in soccer are a little more important than points in hoops), but otherwise it is shaping up to be solid.  I would also make it fluid.  I didn’t know when a game was a “normal” game and when it was an In-Season one.  Make it all happen at once.  I think a carrot would be good also besides the cash (which is a drop in the bucket for most high-level NBA players)…like a guaranteed last spot in the play-in qualifications for the playoffs.  But that is me.  So, this was a brilliant pivot overall, but the first iteration still NEEDS a pivot.
• Did everyone laugh at my earlier post about the Broncos and Steelers possibly meeting in the AFC Playoffs this year and making some noise?  Well, that doesn’t seem so odd now, does it?  Trust in Payton (Sean) and Tomlin.  The Steelers pivoted away from OC Matt Canada while still having a winning record getting to midseason, while the Broncos pivoted from…something.  Actually, the Broncos somehow beat the other team in turnovers consistently, their offensive line suddenly became decent, and I think Russell simply drives Payton LESS crazy these days.
• This is the final year of a four-team college football playoff.  I like the idea of one-loss teams not winning their conference still being in the mix, and I also like it that some small schools can pull off a football version of Hoosiers.  But, I also CAN wait for the #13-#16 teams complaining about their inclusion.  So, enjoy the last year of #5 complaining.  College football has pivoted.
• Obvious pivot.  Someone send me a flowchart of the new conference alignments.  My head hurts every time I try and remember all of the changes.
• The pivot that doesn’t change anything.  Mark Cuban is selling his majority share in the Mavericks.  But, he remains in full control.  Not sure how he pulled THAT off with the Vegas Adelson peeps, but it indicates to me two things.  A) The Adelsons just care about the money, whether in Dallas or Vegas.  B) The fact that THEY are in Vegas and that no NBA team is in Vegas sure should make the city of Dallas a little nervous.
• Kentucky basketball destroyed a very good Miami team that made the Final Four last year.  They are shooting the lights out regularly.  This is not a typical Calipari team.  Sure, it has the typical high-end recruits, but he is simply bending his system for the personnel rather than bending the personnel for his system.
• Virginia men’s hoops had to pivot.  Everyone either graduated or transferred (weird for a Tony Bennett team).  He had to totally pivot and rebuild his 2023-2024 team from scratch.  They look solid thus far, just knocked off a very good Texas A&M team, and are a contender.  I will write the Wisconsin debacle off for the moment, and maybe our big guys can grow a few inches.
• Going back to local hoops, pivot your view on local men’s hoops.  CU and CSU are going to be NOT wanted in anyone’s bracket in March.  Sure, one has been good at a time, but it has been a minute since they BOTH were legit.  And both have at least one future NBA player.
• This thing needs a pivot, even though it was obvious to me it would get out of control.  We all have a “knee cap,” sports already has a “salary cap,” and college sports now needs a NIL Cap. 
• The grass is green, the sky is blue, and the transfer portal in college sports ALSO needs a pivot and new rules.  I follow sports a lot, and still need to map out which QB is going where next year.
• Non-sports random thought.  24 Hour Fitness just sent me an email that their new hours are 5am-9pm.  Rebrand and pivot needed.
• Forced pivot.  So…Blake Martinez got to retire from football WAY early (after seven years) because he found a way to make a fortune in Pokemon.  Then, he gets busted for cheating AT Pokemon.  Now, he is back in the NFL.  And, I thought he was on a practice squad for the Panthers when I started writing this hook.  Just Googled it for accuracy.  Ugghhh.  My Steelers picked him up.  Failed joke.  Like a boomerang, it came back to me.
• Not sure who will have to pivot.  I think Steph Curry still putting up his stats and Klay fading away is the plot of many, many movies.
• The new Hunger Games pre-quel movie was solid.  True, those movies are a favorite of my wife and I, but I think you will be pleasantly surprised about the pre-quel pivot the movie franchise made.  I felt the same way that I did as after the new Dune movie.  Expecting the worst, got the best.
• Expected pivot, no matter how many times he told national TV on Gameday he was staying), Curt Cignetti bolts JMU for Indiana.  I hope he does well, and it is always fun watching a hot coaching prospect jump at the hoops school football coach offer.
• Temporary pivots?  Zion Williamson is high-fiving people and scoring happily on the court, and James Harden finally had his first “normal” game.  Not buying stock in either.  No way both turn out well.
• Creative pivot.  DK Metcalf took sign language classes.  DK, who used to be problematic on taunting penalties in the NFL, now just signs his trash talking.  Brilliant.
• I was hoping so pivot.  Nadal announces he is back for his final year in 2024.  Yes.  Djokovic was losing enough sleep over Carlos, but now has to deal with “old guy trying to get his career title throne back” guy, with the French Open second on the schedule.
• Unexpected pivot.  Dwight Howard is not handling not playing basketball very well, and has unexpected personal life stuff we didn’t expect.
• Suspicious pivot.  I had no problem with Michigan and their cheating.  I would be trying to get the other team’s signals in any way possible also.  Everyone is doing it.  They just got caught.
• Frequent pivot.  I have gotten to the point where I truly don’t remember what team Carson Wentz is on.
• Old pivot.  Sorry, it has been a minute since I posted.  The Phillies had the road PAVED for them and still didn’t even make the World Series.  They need to change up their lineup, OR tell the players to suddenly NOT stop hitting against the next to last opponent.  I really thought this was their year.  They won’t walk over the Braves again like this year.  The league will probably make that round a best of seven moving forward very soon.  And, they will never get a team with no bullpen like the Rangers in the World Series.  Missed opportunity.
• Position pivot.  I think almost any NBA player would take the college and pro career that Udonis Haslem had.  And the Heat just have him wearing a suit instead of a jersey these days.  Classy on BOTH sides.

Transitioning from the sports items, I will now give you the personal reason this blog theme is The Pivot.

I just turned 51.  I have not exactly acted like that, and I am publicly stating that this changes immediately.  I sat down the other day and pondered what I would be remembered for if I died tomorrow, and decided that my footprint hasn’t exactly been legendary.  Far from it.  That will now change on my “return trip.”  The first 50 years out were very selfish, and the 51 and on years WILL be what I am remembered for…whenever the return trip ends.  The Return Trip is noted in Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth, a very moving book if you want to examine your own “awakening.”  To simplify, 0-50 years is going out, and 50-100 is the return trip where wisdom from the first 50 years makes you appreciate everything more.

So, I am now on record that everything is now changing.  Immediately.  This is my blog and website, and whether anyone reads this or not, it is refreshing stating all of this in a public forum.  This is not a bunch of New Year’s Resolutions.  These are promises, facts, and are happening.

I don’t need to go into too many details, but there have been many triggers for this.  Denver Scott/Harry (you know who you are), my apologies on the concert.  Not sure how I went from so happy about Winger to angry for no reason, but I am making changes, sir.  Friends of Lindsey on many occasions, I apologize for the occasions where I might have thought I was fun, but really I was being embarrassing.  To me, my wife, to the room.  That ends now.

For those people I have alienated or those or alienated me, give me another crack at it.  I will definitely at least surprise you, and probably make you proud.  To admit at my age that I need this big of change takes some courage to step up to the mic.

So, here is the plan.

• First, obviously, I will take my marriage with Lindsey to another level.  My wife and I went to a marriage retreat earlier this year.  We have the tools, but haven’t really fully used them.  I will be pushing myself to show what I have learned there.
• It doesn’t matter how my family became a little fragmented or whose fault it was.  I will do my best to proactively give my best everyday.
• I will proactively make my present strong friendships better and awaken those I have left to the wayside because of inaction or selfishness.
• Aside from my daily workout, everything I do daily will start with the question “but does someone else need something before I do something for me?”  I might not wake up selfless immediately, but will baby step my way there very quickly. 
• I will always be one of the most cognizant people in the room…at all times.  Party Mark is now dead.  No more flying close to the sun.
• I will never embarrass my wife ever again, unless it is a natural quirk that happens to be discussed.  There are plenty of those naturally.
• I will be present.  Those who know the concept know what I mean.
• Glad therapy is “in” these days.  I will proactive seek out personal therapy, couples therapy, and some classes in between.  I am generally happy go lucky with my day to day Mark.  I just have this inner thing that pops up here and there.  My apologies to all.
• No one will receive anything but a logistical text or call when I have any beers in me.  It can wait on the funny, brilliant stuff at that moment and it probably isn’t that important anyway.
• I will be attending church twice a month to keep “thinking” about stuff.  I am not saying I am totally religious, but I will use the forum as a place to think.
• I will be starting to volunteer somewhere.  This will take my time and make it someone else’s time.  I am looking at a dog shelter or something dealing with piano.
• I have already started this, but my fitness regimen will be off the hook.  This part is easy.  And I am pumped.  Target weight is 195 lbs, and too many goals to list here.
• To combine fitness and thinking, I will be doing yoga/meditation once or twice a week.  True yoga.  Yes, me.  Doing yoga.
• Another selfish task I will elevate (in this case) is playing the piano. 
• And, of course, I don’t really need to change much on the love my dog front…just need to keep it up.
• This list is just the beginning and, of course, an evolving list. 
• Wish me luck.

I have been an asshole, folks.  That changes now.  On the record, on my site.  I will update those dropdowns at some point in the next week lol.

No one probably will read this anyway, but it feels good to put it on paper regardless.  Tree, forest, sound, yada yada yada.  Instead of the Summer of George, this is the Winter of Mark (Seinfeld).  If you can’t spot the sucker at the table in your first 50 years at the table, then you ARE the sucker (Rounders).

I will still do epic shit.  I will just be doing it more responsibly and more selflessly.  This Return Trip is going to be epic.  Sounds like an excellent name for the book I am starting to brainstorm. 

WGEMCRMBLRTHMD.

Don’t worry about the acronym.  It lives in me though. 

As one shepherd said to the other shepherd, I am going to get the flock out of here.  Thanks for tuning in.