Writing by Carl

Blending Sounds

2020-05-03T20:53:00.001-07:00

Photo by susannahscottphoto--4689775

I’ve always loved discovering new sounds.

Music has a way of getting you to react more so than almost any other element on earth. There are some that hit hard and rattle you to the core. For example, the first time I heard “Bodies” by Drowning Pool in the Summer of 2001, I was so energized I wanted to leap through the sheetrock of my friends basement through the dryer duct. I also have a significant soft spot in my heart for the sweet sounds of bubblegum pop music. There is something magical about harmonizing vocals that have the capability to just make you feel good (think “Runaway” by Real McCoy from ‘95 at a roller skating rink).

When it comes to music genres, I believe you can have your cake and eat it too. Issues, led by sweet sounding vocals of Tyler Carter and throaty heavy metal aggressive tones compliment each other to perfection, creating a flawless mix despite being from two completely different vinyl bins at the record store in a previous generation. Each of their albums offers a smorgasbord of different styles in each track. One song will go toe to toe with the heaviest of hard rock songs, while another might mirror the tone of a Celine Dion duet love song or sound like an instrumental track during the loading screen of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. Simply put, they’re awesome and they do it right.

Check out “Never Lose Your Flames” by Issues

The blending of hip hop and hard rock is not the new thing all the kids are talking about these days. I’m sure the soundtrack of the early 2000s for many of us featured “Papercut” by Linkin Park. Enter the fusion of hard rock and electronic dance music. It’s fun to get lost in an I See Stars record where you’ll forget whether you're at a screamo concert or Hakkasan in Las Vegas or in a mosh pit at Starland Ballroom in New Jersey. Sylar is another fun band that leans a little more toward the hard rock genre fused with hip hop undertones. A lot of their tracks would make for great walk out music at a mixed martial arts event.

Listen to “Ten Thousand Feet” by I See Stars

Give “All or Nothing” by Sylar a spin

They say “change is good”. Who’s they anyway? A Day To Remember collaborated on a track with Marshmello this past summer called “Rescue Me”. I ask you to play this track followed by one of their tracks from one of their earlier albums. This is a prime example of a band evolving with the times, not being afraid to try and experiment with new things, while staying true to their hard rock roots. One of the greatest pop punk bands of all time in my opinion.

Play “Rescue Me” by Marshmello featuring A Day To Remember

Palisades has quickly become one of my favorite bands over the past few years. This New Jersey rock band brings a ton of energy in each and every track with ear candy pop vocals contrasted by slashing guitars, screaming vocals, a hint of hip hop and a splash of EDM. I recommend giving them a listen if you haven’t already.

Immerse yourself in “Let Down” by Palisades

I had the privilege of attending a show on Blink-182’s summer tour this year. It’s always a good time rocking out to the hits like “Adam’s Song” and “All The Small Things”, but the true magic of the show came from legendary drummer, Travis Barker. In the middle of the show, the lights dim and a gong sounds. Barker’s insane drumming skills kick into high gear as he becomes enclosed in a steel cylinder over Nipsey Hussle’s “Last Time That I Checc’d” followed by a series of heavy metal, hip hop and club mixes. If you need a “pick me up”, this will surely help compliment your morning cup of coffee.

Have some fun with Travis Barker’s drum solo from Blink’s latest tour

Sounds move us. Enjoy them.

Have a wonderful day!

Love always,

Carl

Pushing Forward

2020-04-12T18:21:00.001-07:00

Photo by Heloisa Freitas

I’ve always been a huge boxing fan ever since I was 8 years old. Like many other sports, perseverance and overcoming obstacles are key elements of boxing. If you watch many of the highlight reels of some of the sport’s greats, you’ll most likely see spectacular knockouts by all-time greats like Mike Tyson or speed and quickness like Oscar De La Hoya. What gets lost most of the time are the stories in between some of those highlight reel moments that really stick and leave a lasting positive impact on others. This past February, another one of those moments left a positive impact on me personally that I think about a lot as we navigate the challenging times we are facing as a society today.

In 2015, Tyson Fury defeated longtime Heavyweight Boxing legend, Wladimir Klitschko, capturing the sport’s Lineal World Heavyweight Championship in an autumn bout. Fury, undefeated and in his late twenties at the time, had found his way at the pinnacle of boxing’s mountaintop destined to carve his name in the history books as one of the all-time greats.

Instead of continuing on his path to greatness, Fury had fallen into a deep bout of depression and personal demons that saw him relinquish his championship titles and exit the sport. Many had written him off for good. After a two and a half year layoff, Tyson Fury had made his return to competition in 2018 and added a couple of victories to his record, leading to a December matchup against World Champion Deontay Wilder. With the long-layoff and out-of-the-ring issues, many had questioned his ability to perform at the level he once did years prior. What unfolded in the bout was remarkable.

Tyson Fury dominated the matchup showcasing superb boxing technical skills through the majority of the fight, with many considering him the winner on the scorecards. Deontay Wilder, a notorious power puncher, sent Fury to the canvas with a lights-out shot in the late rounds. Fury did the unthinkable and rose to his feet before the referee called off the fight. At the conclusion of the fight, the judges had scored it as a draw.

While the bout was critically acclaimed, fans and members of the media had clamored for a rematch to determine the true winner. In February 2020, Wilder and Fury had finally met in a high-anticipated rematch. What had unfolded was shocking. Fury, who had come in heavier than the first bout, showcased an entirely different game plan than the initial matchup stepping forward into and overpowering the smaller Wilder with draining shots, instead of the technical and defensive style used in the 2018 fight. Wilder is an extremely dangerous boxer with power to end a fight with a single punch. Many boxers tend to shy away from Wilder’s line of fire. Fury challenged him with superior confidence by walking forward, essentially beating him at his own game. The referee stopped the fight in the 7th round awarding Tyson Fury with the Heavyweight crown once again.

This story is remarkable to me, not only because it is a comeback story, but because it is a story about overcoming personal struggles, being confident and fearless, learning to evolve and ultimately coming back stronger than ever.

We are undoubtedly experiencing challenging times this year. While it is unclear when or if things will return to the normal that we once experienced, we must come together and help one another now more than ever. Like Tyson Fury, through perseverance, confidence, and positive thinking, I have no doubt, that we will overcome these struggles and come back stronger than ever.

Be safe. With Love.

- Carl

Spread the love

2019-12-31T10:24:00.003-08:00

I usually get the bug to blog around the end of the year as a way to reflect and look back on all of the
year’s accomplishments and challenges and get motivated to start fresh with a clean slate for the new
year. This year is a little different for me. As I look forward to the new year and the new decade, I look
forward to fatherhood and the birth of my daughter. While I am nervous and a bit scared, I am already
overwhelmed with love and joy for her without even meeting her yet. I already know without a shadow
of a doubt that she is the greatest thing to ever happen to me. I don’t know exactly how to prepare,
although, I’ve heard that you can’t really prepare for being a parent. The only thing that I can do is give
her all the love I’ve got, be patient, be open, learn from her and others and do the absolute best that I
can. I am ecstatic to meet her and see what the next chapter of life brings for our little family.

I started this blog in college ten years ago, and as I look back and compare life vs. today, it is astonishing
at how different it is at every angle. From the growth of social media to the usage of mobile technologies
and the evolution of business, life has certainly changed quite a bit since the beginning of the decade in
some positive and not so positive ways. I am not one for making colossal resolutions because like many
others, they become forgotten about after a few weeks into the year. This year my only goal is to spread
as much love as possible as I truly find joy in seeing others smile. If there is one thing I've learned over the
past ten years is that being yourself and embracing all your best qualities rather than trying to be something
that you are not is a new level of happiness and freedom that I feel is unattainable otherwise.

I for one am nowhere near perfect and i’ve certainly made some mistakes over the past decade, and while
I can’t go back in time, I can certainly learn and grow from them moving forward. I’ve realized that by living
in the past will overshadow the good things going on in the present. As a soon-to-be Dad and husband, I am
excited for all the things that life has in store in the new year and I want to experience all of them with an open
heart, a clear mind and a peaceful soul. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, but one universal
trait that we are all capable of doing is being kind and uplifting one another. I am a firm believer that if we can
all spread love, the world will be a much better place.

Cheers to 2020!

Much love,

Carl

30 of my favorite restaurants in no particular order

2019-01-12T19:36:00.000-08:00

For those who know me, know that I love food and dining at restaurants. Aside from indulging in a delicious meal, I love gatherings and spending time with friends and loved ones and engaging in a good conversation. There is something unique about everyone and I love hearing about everyone's personal journeys.

Here is a recommended list of 30 of my favorite restaurants to gather with friends and family for a great time and an incredible meal.

Patsy's Italian Restaurant, New York, NY
https://www.patsys.com/
A legendary Italian restaurant enjoyed by families, celebrities and all walks of life for decades
Personal recommendation: Sausages Fra Diavolo

Old Homestead Steakhouse, Atlantic City, NJ
https://www.theborgata.com/dining/fine-dining/old-homestead-steak-house
A world-class steakhouse with an A+ meal every time i've been.
Personal recommendation: Filet Mignon

Darrell's, Venice, FL
http://www.darrellsrestaurant.net/
The best BBQ I have ever had. Hands down. Take the family. You won't regret it.
Personal recommendation: Pulled Piggy Sandwich with a side of Mac and Cheese

Brick Alley Pub, Newport, RI
http://brickalley.com/
A great casual place for wings, beer, sandwiches and great pub fare
Personal recommendation: New England Clam Chowder (Unbelievable!)

Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen, Las Vegas, NV
https://www.caesars.com/caesars-palace/restaurants/hells-kitchen
A great upscale restaurant with a modern and cool vibe.
Personal recommendation: Beef Wellington

Sinatra, Las Vegas, NV
https://www.wynnlasvegas.com/Dining/FineDining/Sinatra
An elegant and intimate setting with delectable Italian fare.
Personal recommendation: Linguini with clams

Buddakan, Atlantic City, NJ
https://buddakanac.com/
A warm and elegant environment with a top-notch upscale Asian menu.
Personal recommendation: Lamb Chops with the Crispy Calamari Salad to start

Roberta's Pizza, Brooklyn, NY
http://robertaspizza.com/
One of the best pizzas that you'll ever have. Well worth the trip!
Personal recommendation: Margherita pizza

Delorenzo's Pizza, Robbinsville, NJ
https://www.delorenzostomatopies.com/
A legendary New Jersey spot for tomato pies.
Personal recommendation: A large tomato pie with sausage and roasted red peppers

Terakawa Ramen, Princeton Junction, NJ
https://terakawaramennj.com/
A cool spot for ramen in Central Jersey. Everything I've had here has been tremendous.
Personal recommendation: Kyushu Danji Ramen

Under The Moon Cafe, Bordentown, NJ
http://underthemooncafe.com/
A fun spot to dine with friends. A unique dining room with great food.
Personal recommendation: Gnocchi or the Rissoto

Thai Kitchen, Bridgewater, NJ
http://thaikitchenbridgewater.com/
Friendly staff and delicious thai food. A must visit for my wife and I when we are in the area.
Personal recommendation: Pad Cashew with Chicken

Viva Mexico, Flemington, NJ
http://restaurantvivamexico.com/
A hidden gem featuring some of the best mexican food you will find in New Jersey
Personal recommendation: Chicken Fajitas with Tres Leche Cake for dessert

Morton's Steakhouse, Philadelphia, PA
https://www.mortons.com/philadelphia/
Always an elegant and world-class dining experience every time I visit.
Personal recommendation: Prime Ribeye (medium rare) with a glass of red wine

Bobby Flay Steak, Atlantic City, NJ
https://www.theborgata.com/dining/fine-dining/bobby-flay-steak
An awesome dining room with an upscale steakhouse menu that will not disappoint.
Personal recommendation: Hanger steak

Lambertville Station, Lambertville, NJ
https://www.lambertvillestation.com/
A nice date spot that overlooks the Delaware river in New Jersey.
Personal recommendation: Cast Iron New York strip steak

The Blue Moose, New Hope, PA
http://www.cafebluemoose.com/
My go-to spot for brunch. A fun place to go when shopping in New Hope.
Personal recommendation: Bourbon Street omelette

Peppermill, Las Vegas, NV
http://www.peppermilllasvegas.com/
A 24-hour comfort food haven with cool Vegas vibes.
Personal recommendation: Pancakes (Bring your appetite)

Katz's Deli, New York, NY
https://www.katzsdelicatessen.com/
A classic New York City staple with unbelievable sandwiches
Personal recommendation: Pastrami sandwich

Kin Khao, San Francisco, CA
http://kinkhao.com/
An enjoyable spot thai cuisine in San Francisco
Personal recommendation: Pad Kee Mao

Cheers, Boston, MA
https://cheersboston.com/
A fun spot for fans of the show. Great pub food!
Personal recommendation: Burger Miester with Ma Clavin's Boston Clam "Chowda" to start

Nick's Fish House, Baltimore, MD
https://nicksfishhouse.com/
A great place on the waterfront to unwind in the summer time.
Personal recommendation: Seafood Scampi

Uries Waterfront Restaurant, Wildwood, NJ
https://www.uries.net/
One of my all-time favorite summer stops at the Jersey Shore
Personal recommendation: Shrimp Scampi with a Goose Island beer

Dock's Oyster House, Atlantic City, NJ
http://www.docksoysterhouse.com/
A legendary Atlantic City spot for over a century.
Personal recommendation: Filet Mignon and Oysters Rockefeller

The Logan Inn, New Hope, PA
https://loganinn.com/
Great upscale dining with an intimate setting that overlooks the river. Very nice for al fresco dining.
Personal recommendation: Any of the seafood dishes

Oceana, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico
http://www.secretsresorts.com/en_us/resorts/mexico/puerto-los-cabos/dining-drinks.html
Romantic dining at its finest. Overlooking the Sea of Cortez at the Secrets Resort.
Personal recommendation: Surf and Turf

Robert's Steakhouse, Atlantic City, NJ
http://www.robertsatlanticcity.com
An upscale steakhouse that will not disappoint.
Personal recommendation: Rib Eye (Medium rare)

Il Mulino New York, Atlantic City, NJ
http://www.ilmulino.com/
A classic New York-inspired italian restaurant on the AC boardwalk.
Personal recommendation: Any of the veal dishes

Sunflower Caffe, Sonoma, CA
http://www.sonomasunflower.com/
A wonderful spot for brunch while visiting wine country
Personal recommendation: The American Breakfast

Ollies Pub & Grub, Breckenridge, CO
https://www.olliespub.com/
A great spot for a burger and an IPA after a day on the ski slopes
Personal recommendation: Breakfast Burger

Enjoy!

C

50 random things from 90s pop culture

2018-11-09T22:21:00.003-08:00

We call love to sit back and reminisce about the "good ol' days" from time to time. The 1990s were certainly a decade to remember when it comes to pop culture, television, music and emerging technologies. If you grew up in this decade, you will most likely remember several of the items on this upcoming list. Many of these references have been forgotten while some will live on forever.

Here are a few random staples of 90's pop culture in no particular order.

Blockbuster Video
There was nothing like a Friday night at everyone's favorite video rental store. The smell of butter and plastic VHS tape cases enclosed in a blue and yellow-carpeted store. Get some microwavable popcorn ready and for a night featuring the double-tape set of Titanic. Don't forget to rewind.

New Kids on the Block
After forming in the mid-80s, the New Kids were on top of the world in the early 90s embracing full on superstardom with sold out stadium tours, branded lunch boxes, fortune and fame worldwide. These guys are still "Hangin' Tough" to this day as a group and sound as good as ever.

Michael Jordan
Six championships. The greatest basketball player of all time. Enough said.

Full House
For eight seasons, Danny Tanner, Uncle Jesse and Joey Gladstone provided us with heartwarming encouragement, family values, and cheesy humor. It is comforting to know that "Wake up San Francisco!" "Cut it out" "You got it dude" still live on in reruns and a Netflix reboot to this day.

Cartridge video games
Super Mario Brothers. Sonic the Hedgehog. Donkey Kong. The list goes on and on. Call a friend and indulge in Goldeneye and RBI Baseball '94 until the sun comes up.

Fanny packs
Lets face it. Fanny packs might contend as one of the most convenient apparel accessories ever invented. They had a short run as a 90s fashion fad. I wouldn't be surprised if they made a return to modern day popular culture.

Ford Bronco
A tough and rugged body-on-frame SUV capable of hauling the family through any weather condition on the way to a weekend getaway. Despite its unfortunate cameo in 90s pop culture, the Bronco was undoubtedly a classic. Rumor has it that it may make a return at some point.

90s Saturday Night Live cast
Chris Farley, Phil Hartman, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, and many more legendary names that have left their mark on comedy history played prominent roles in NBC's long-running Saturday Night sketch comedy franchise in the 90s.

"Brick" cell phones
It is difficult to imagine life without cellphones today. In the 1990s, some models of cellphones were the size of a small cinderblock with limited functionality and costed a fortune to operate. Despite all of this, it was a innovative for its time to be able to call a friend from the car on the way home from the Jamesway.

Portable music players/radios
Imagine standing at the bus stop with a Sony Discman in your hand with a handheld leather booklet of CDs to keep you entertained during the entire commute. The Wallflowers, Gin Blossoms, and Hootie and the Blowfish always seemed to do the trick when you needed an extra boost.

90s fashion
Remember the grunge style or when baggy carpenter jeans were the coolest thing in town? Throw on some Alanis Morrissette and your favorite look and do the Macarena for a little throwback fun.

VCRs
Grab some popcorn, adjust the tracking on the ol' four head and throw in your favorite Adam Sandler movie on VHS and enjoy all the feels of the 90s.

AOL Instant Messenger
Buddy lists, profiles and waiting for the person you liked to sign on and send you a message. brb, ttyl, rofl, lol...AIM was certainly a pioneer application of its time.

Pogs
Grab a slammer and your pog collection and get ready for a heated battle with your neighborhood friend, because its time to play for keeps. I'm still waiting for this game to make a comeback.

90s Top 40 Radio
Madonna, Backstreet Boys, Sheryl Crow, Celine Dion, Shania Twain. The list goes on and on and on. Before Spotify and streaming playlists, your local contemporary hit radio station was the place to be for all of the hottest pop hits.

Palm Pilot
A tablet before a tablet was a thing. The Palm Pilot was an organizer with revolutionary for its time, allowing you to organize your calendar and even check email to an extent. Imagine that!

Beepers
A classic staple of any parent's belt loop in the 90s. Its the equivalent of receiving Morse code on your cargo jeans while combing through the clearance bin at Sam Goody. What a cool way to get in touch with someone!

Joe Pesci movies
Home Alone, Home Alone 2, Goodfellas, The Lethal Weapon movies, Casino, and many more. Joe Pesci was an icon on the silver screen in this decade.

Fun Factory
I believe this group was a head of its time. I am confident that if "I wanna be with you" or "Don't Go Away" were released today, they would be top 40 hits.

Celine Dion
Her voice with some powerful percussion instruments could move mountains. All I will say is "The Power of Love" still gives me chills.

Shania Twain
Ms. Twain reminded us all in the 90s that having a cool car and a comb up your sleeve just in case was nothing to brag about. A seemingly endless list of hits solidifies her as a superstar.

Shaquille O'Neal movies
Who could forget "Kazaam"? Also, I'm still waiting on the reboot of "Steel".

Zany Brainy
A great stop for Pokemon cards and the all-new CD-ROM game that you couldn't wait to get home and install on your Windows 95 computer.

String Thing
Imagine a product similar Twizzlers pull and peel splattered on a board. Ta-da. String Thing.

Austin Powers
Groovy! One Hundred Billionnnn Dollars! A classic comedy franchise with over the top characters that still remain memorable to this day.

Joel Schumacher's Batman
While these movies weren't the best, I think George Clooney deserved one more run at playing Bruce Wayne.

Baseball superstars
Mark McGwire. Sammy Sosa. Darren Daulton. Jose Conseco. Ken Griffey Jr. Cal Ripken Jr. and dozens of superstars with larger than life charisma graced America's pastime in the 90s.

The Mighty Ducks
Its always fun to watch the journey of a pee wee hockey team go from barely being able to skate to winning the league championship to beating Iceland in the Goodwill games and eventually becoming a prep-high school powerhouse all under the guidance of Gordon Bombay. What a magic man. Quack Quack!

Multi-colored Apple computers
What would go perfectly with that new office wallpaper? How about a transparent blueberry-colored desktop computer.

Laser disc players
At one point, some considered the future of multimedia to come in the form of a disc that could double as a pizza serving dish.

The Lethal Weapon movie series
One of the most entertaining buddy cop tandems of the 90s. You could always count on Riggs and Murtaugh.

Ally McBeal
An underated series ahead of its time. How could you not cheer on Ally?

The Ford Taurus station wagon
Nothing beats the excitement of riding backwards in the third row, while eating fun dip on the way to the rollerskating rink.

Nick at Nite's Block Party Summer
Remember watching four straight hours of I Love Lucy reruns on a hot July Tuesday night dubbed Lucy Tuesdays? How about Munster Mondays or Happy Days Thursdays?

Denim jackets
How do you top wearing your favorite pair of jeans? Wearing a matching jean jacket.

Snap back hats
A classic staple of the sidelines and locker rooms of sporting events.

A single earring
A cool fashion trend and a common trait amongst many of boy band members of the 90s.

Notorious B.I.G
A legend and an icon of music and pop culture

The Monday Night Wars
One of the most heated battles in cable TV history took place between two sports entertainment giants

The Brady's
No. We're not talking about The Brady Bunch. We're talking about the short lived drama series surrounding an older Brady family from 1990. Does anyone remember this?

Seattle Supersonics
With George Karl, Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton and a Western Conference Championship run, the Sonics had a good run in the 90s. I'm still waiting for this team to make a comeback.

Jerry Rice
Quite frankly, one of the greatest players to ever grace the gridiron. Jerry Rice was a once in a generation type of player.

Body-building gear
Its only a matter of time before Zubaz and bright-colored tank tops are back in style

90s game shows
You've gotta love "Who wants to be a millionaire?" with Regis Philbin. The best!

90s day time talk shows
You can't forget some of those intense episodes of Sally Jessy Raphael

The Home Alone movie series
It never gets old watching Kevin McCallister foil the schemes of Harry and Marv after all these years. A quintessential gem of 90s cinema.

Cadillac Allante
A Cadillac sports car with bold Italian design cues that deserves another run. Tommy Gunn drove one after defeating Union Cane in Rocky V. This is certainly a collectors item if you can find one today.

Handheld video games
A Gameboy was the perfect companion on an extensive bus ride. Super Mario Bros., Paper Boy and Donkey Kong. The list goes on and on.

The WB Network
A mecca for teen heart throb shows like Dawson's Creek and supernatural fantasies like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed. Essentially the channel still exists as The CW, but without the frog mascot with the top hat.

CD catalogs
I can vividly remember getting excited when the catalog delivery of NSYNC's debut album, Billy Joel's Greatest Hits and Madonna's Immaculate collection came in.

Enjoy the day!

- C

Embracing every moment of the journey

2018-07-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

Over the past few months or so, I've hit a bit of a lull in terms of finding peace with myself in my off time from work. I have been in this constant search for my meaning and purpose. Who is Carl? What am I passionate about? What am I supposed to do in my time here on earth? I like to remain extremely busy. I've always considered myself a motivated individual, however, I feel as if I get in my own way some times in regards to unwinding and truly embracing peace and happiness. At times, I feel as if I take a day to lounge around, that I am missing out on accomplishing something, which in turn makes me upset with myself. By staying busy with either my full time job, grad school, teaching a course or any other activity, I accept that I put in an acceptable effort for that day. I like going 100 miles per hour all of the time in pursuit of the next big milestone or goal in my life, however, recently, I've realized that each milestone or goal that I reach, there is a quick pat on the back until that becomes a thing of the past and the next goal is now the direct target. Its almost like a never-ending escalator ride where I find myself running against the automated stairs in the opposite direction.

After speaking with my close friends, I came to the realization that it is extremely important to enjoy every moment of life as it unfolds and to embrace all of the lessons that come with each day. We cannot change the past, however, we can learn from our journey and continue to live life. I am guilty of looking back in time and saying "If I only did this..." and beating myself up over mistakes and decisions I wish I could have done over. When I also reflect back, I realize that I am incredibly fortunate and grateful for all of the wonderful people in my life, all of the great experiences, and all of the fun that I have had over my twenty-nine years of life. I hope everyone that reads this will find confidence in themselves to chase their dreams, find their happiness and embrace every single moment that each day brings forth. While I may still be trying to figure everything out, I realized that it is okay to not always have everything figured out.

Keep working hard, be kind to others and be your true authentic self.

Enjoy!

Carl

Ten Podcasts worth checking out

2018-06-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

Podcasting is one of the fastest growing content distribution methods in multimedia today. It seems like everyone has started one, from celebrities to comedians to major brands, corporations and sports personalities. New podcasts are popping up all the time. Some of them are unbearable, others are mildly entertaining and some are excellent to the point that they are as binge-worthy as your favorite Netflix show. Here are a few worth checking out:

The Joe Rogan Experience: Quite possibly the greatest podcast of all time. Engaging, eye-opening, hilarious, informative and everything in between.

The Church of What's Happening Now: Joey Diaz is one of the funniest human beings on planet earth and he has an endless number of stories to tell.

Below the Belt with Brendan Schaub: This UFC fighter turned standup comic will keep you entertained from start to finish.

The Gary Vee Audio Experience: Need a motivational boost? Push play. You won't regret it.

Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard: Whether or not you are a fan of pro wrestling, these guys are great storytellers.

ESPN's 30 for 30 Podcasts: If you like the TV series, you will most likely be a fan of this too.

Robert Kelly's "You Know What Dude": Straight up funny. If you need a laugh, this one always delivers.

The Tim Ferriss Show: Fascinating stories and interviews from a fascinating individual.

Fitzdog Radio: A hilarious podcast hosted by the always-funny comedian, Greg Fitzsimmons. One of my favorites.

Aubrey Marcus Podcast: An enlightening podcast from Onnit Founder, Aubrey Marcus.

Thanks for reading.

Cheers!

Carl

Good Pizza and Boxing in Brooklyn

2018-03-21T19:40:00.001-07:00

It was a chilly Saturday evening in March. I had just picked up two tickets to the World Heavyweight Championship boxing match at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for my friend and I. I buttoned up my blue Brooks Brothers shirt, laced up my caramel colored Bullboxer leather shoes, threw on my leather jacket and headed for the door with a hot cup of coffee in hand. The trip into the city from New Jersey from the turnpike was relatively smooth outside of a little bit of traffic on the Verrazano Bridge. When we finally reached our destination, we had a few hours until bell time, so we decided to seek out some really good pizza. Knowing that Brooklyn has traditionally been a home for some of the best pizza on earth, we knew that it wouldn’t be hard to find.

After doing a little bit of due diligence, we found that Roberta’s on Moore Street had great reviews so we decided to take a cab over there for a pre-fight meal. Since we were short on time, we decided to order a Margherita pie to go from the takeout line. To say it was one of the most delicious pizzas i’ve ever eaten would be an understatement. The pie boasted a perfectly cooked crust covered in fresh mozzarella with tomatoes and basil. The crispiness of the crust was complimented so well with flavors of the ingredients. If you haven’t tried a pizza from Roberta’s, it is well worth the trip.

After finishing our meal, we headed over to the Barclays Center for what turned out to be one of the most exciting Heavyweight Title fights in years. Deontay Wilder and Luis Ortiz, two undefeated forces, went head to head for supremacy for ten hard fought rounds. Wilder proved to everyone in attendance at the Barclays Center and a worldwide audience watching on Showtime that he is indeed one of the best heavyweights walking the planet. It will be interesting if a matchup with fellow World Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua comes to fruition before the end of 2018. After the fight, we walked back and picked up the car from the garage and rocked out to Top 40 hits from the 80s the entire trip home. It was a great night out in New York from start to finish. I was able to enjoy some of my favorite things in life, pizza, professional boxing, music, exploration and a good conversation.

For many of us, the hectic grind of the week can overshadow scheduling time for ourselves, however, I feel that it is important for everyone to spend time with friends and family doing things that they love as often as possible. Beyond the daily routines that seem to erase days off the calendar at an alarming pace, it is the memories that remain forever. The ability to look back at them at any moment and smile makes them priceless.

Enjoy life. Each and every moment. Have fun.

Cheers!

Carl

Undisputed

2018-01-15T17:47:00.002-08:00

There are big things in the works for boxing’s heavyweight division in 2018. Epic and exciting may not quite be the words to describe it. Monumental and historic may be better adjectives.

Last year we saw the continued rise of two stars, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder, solidifying their place amongst the ranks of the sweet science as two of the most feared and dominant champions in the past decade. Both of them boast once in a generation power as well as an undefeated record. Anthony Joshua made a major statement last April as he dethroned Wladimir Klitschko by knockout to capture two out of the four major recognized World Heavyweight Championships, the WBA title and the IBF title. Deontay Wilder, the WBC champion, captured his title in 2015 after defeating then-champion Bermane Stiverne by decision. Wilder, whom has faced many doubters, has silenced many over the past three years by conquering any challenger that has been placed in front of him, some in brutal fashion, much like his November 2017 rematch against Stiverne, which ended in a devastating first round knockout.

While many are waiting for a super-fight between these two stars, there are two more puzzle pieces that stand in the way of an Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion, something that we have not had since Lennox Lewis held it almost two decades ago. The outside factors include Joseph Parker, the WBO Heavyweight Champion, who has finally agreed to terms to fight Joshua this upcoming March in a showdown that would award the winner with three out of the four titles. The perceived roadmap at that point would suggest the winner of the Anthony Joshua-Joseph Parker bout would face the winner of the Deontay Wilder-Luis Ortiz bout that is also scheduled for March. The hope is that this crowning bout would take place later on this year. Belts aside, the last remaining piece that would allow one man to call themselves the true bonafide undisputed champion is the lineal heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, who has been in retirement for the better part of the past three years after a series of personal struggles. Fury has claimed that he plans on returning to action, however that remains to be seen. If any challengers are able to beat lineal heavyweight champion, Fury, they can truly call themselves “the man to beat the man” in addition to carrying all of the gold leaving zero doubt as to who the best heavyweight fighter is.

It would be quite the storybook ending and a new chapter in history if the one left standing victorious at the end of 2018 with all four titles finds himself standing toe to toe with Tyson Fury for one final showdown in 2019 with the winner reigning supreme as Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion. Time will only tell at this point. It will almost certainly be a fun roller coaster ride on the way there.

Resurgence on the boardwalk

2018-01-14T20:31:00.001-08:00

A new day for Atlantic City, New Jersey appears to be in clear sight. After a few difficult years for the town that was once known as "America's Playground", there are many things to get excited about in town. The former Taj Mahal will now be relaunched as the completely overhauled music-themed Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. A short walk down the boardwalk from the Hard Rock sits the once promising resort formerly known as Revel and later TEN Atlantic City, which closed in 2014. It has been reported that the shuttered resort has been sold and plans to be reopened as Ocean Casino Resort later this year, according to The Press of Atlantic City.

This is tremendous on a number of levels. Most importantly for job seekers, there will be a number of new opportunities for employment. With two “new” entrants in Ocean and Hard Rock joining the roster of Atlantic City’s entertainment and hotel venues, one can only hope that this will lead to a rise of big name entertainment acts and major sporting events to once again consider Atlantic City as their host. Outside of major concert performers from Frank Sinatra to the The Beach Boys to Beyonce, AC was a name for itself a a big player in the boxing industry hosting some of the biggest fights in history, featuring fighters like Mike Tyson, George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins. Perhaps the World Champions of today like Vasyl Lomachenko or Deontay Wilder may be interested in adding their names to that list of legendary Atlantic City fighters.

Whether its professional boxing, new restaurants, or Hard Rock Hotel and Casino concerts, there are many reasons to get excited for what is in store for AC over the next few years.

Let the games begin

2018-01-06T11:20:00.001-08:00

It’s January, which means that it’s playoff time in the National Football League. For the Philadelphia Eagles, the past month has not been the greatest in team history. Despite a rough December, the team is 13-3 with a first round bye and home field advantage throughout the entire run of the playoffs. Many critics and fans have lost a great deal of hope for the Eagles chances due to the loss of Quarterback, Carson Wentz to an injury. There is no way to sugarcoat this scenario as anything other than tragic. Under the guidance of Carson Wentz, the franchise had seen a resurgence and a revitalization unlike anything that we have seen in several years. Since the injury, the team has just not been the same.

Don't get me wrong. There are certainly plenty of reasons to be concerned, but with an extended break over the bye week and all of the games on the road to the Superbowl scheduled for The Linc, there are reasons to get excited. The teams that the Eagles could potentially play in the first round are either an indoor team with an up and down season (Falcons) or an inexperienced warm weather team with a high powered offense (LA Rams). The Rams are certainly scary when they have the football, but I question how Quarterback, Jared Goff, will handle the potentially extreme weather conditions and a tough Eagles defense. The keys to victory for the Eagles will be protecting the football, a bruising running game and playing relentlessly on defense particularly against Running Back, Todd Gurley. If the Eagles can contain Gurley and force Goff to try and win the game with his arm in a difficult environment, I am confident that the Eagles have an opportunity to make it to the NFC Championship game.

The bottom line is that the Eagles can construct the perfect gameplan to maximize the strengths that they do have and make it out of this game with a victory, but they have to get in the right mindset and believe that they are a championship team. They have to make their opponent fear them from the moment they walk into the stadium.

It all starts tonight!

Cheers!

Carl

Spinoff City

2018-01-04T21:18:00.002-08:00

I’ve always been a big fan of episodic storytelling, specifically in the form of television programming. While at times movie trilogies do a great job with character development, there is nothing in comparison to a long drawn out series of peaks and valleys and triumphs and stumbles that are afforded over a multi-season television sitcom or drama series. With the real estate of time available, it allows the writers to do a full on deep dive into a character’s life, including all of their insecurities and values, which allows for the viewer to fully embrace a particular fictional universe.

First things first. I have never been involved in creating a sitcom, but I would venture to say that building a successful sitcom or drama series that runs for eight or nine seasons and generates a consistent level of positive ratings is as difficult as hitting a hole in one on a golf course. Many of the classic shows, such as Seinfeld, Friends, I Love Lucy and The Big Bang Theory have found the formula for success. These shows were able to connect with an audience, get them to buy in and keep them coming back for more. What is even more impressive is when somehow lightning strikes twice with a successful spinoff.

The concept of a spinoff has been attempted numerous amounts of times since the inception of television. Writers will go back to the drawing board and attempt to take a successful show’s characters and expand on them in a different direction. To me personally, spinoffs are fun for nostalgic purposes, but at first, all you can think about is when other familiar cast members are going to make a cameo appearance. To me it seems logical and a safe assumption that a new show with established characters would instantly generate some level of success based on the history of the prior show. This is certainly not the case.

Friends was wildly successful for ten seasons. The spinoff, “Joey”, which picks up where Friends left off with Joey Tribbiani moving to California, surrounded by a new supporting cast, lasted two seasons before getting cancelled. After The Brady Bunch had a successful run from the late 1960s into the 1970s, an attempt at a spinoff called “The Brady Brides” was made featuring Marcia and Jan getting married and sharing a home together in the early 1980s. The show did not resonate with a mass audience and was subsequently cancelled after a handful of episodes. A third attempt at reviving the familiar Brady brand in 1990 was made with “The Brady's”, a more serious-toned dramatic look at a grown up Brady family. This rendition was also cancelled after only few episodes.

On the other hand, there are a few cases where spinoffs have found equal or even more success than their predecessor. Frasier, which is a spinoff of Cheers, follows Dr. Frasier Crane to Seattle with a very strong cast of new supporting characters for eleven seasons, which mirrors the run that Cheers had from 1982 through 1993. Happy Days led to a number of spinoffs, some of which were successful and others were not. Joanie loves Chachi had a short run while Laverne and Shirley enjoyed eight successful seasons.

With this topic as relevant as ever with several new show revivals currently on air, like Fuller House, Will & Grace and The X-Files or scheduled to debut in the near future, as Roseanne is in March, I thought I would have some fun and conceptualize some new spinoffs based on hit shows from yesteryear.

Here we go!

“George Costanza” - This half hour sitcom begins a few years after the main characters from Seinfeld are released from prison. George settles down and gets married in the suburbs of Long Island with a new job as a traveling salesman for a construction supply company.

“Gladstone” - This single camera dramedy series follows Joey Gladstone, from Full House fame, who is living in Las Vegas with a comedy residence at a casino. The show features many of the highs and lows of Joey trying to stay on top of the comedy business.

“Monica and Chandler” - This sitcom follows Monica and Chandler Bing from Friends as they adjust to life in the suburbs raising children.

“Johnny Boy” - This concept is a prequel to The Sopranos and follow’s Tony’s father, Johnny, as he rises to power in his New Jersey crime family in the 1950s and 1960s.

“Urkel” - This half hour sitcom features Steve Urkel and Laura Winslow, from Family Matters fame, now married with children. Steve is working as an Astronaut and gets into all kinds of hilarious situations along the way.

“Peyton’s Place” - This show follows, Peyton and Lucas Scott, arguably the most popular characters from One Tree Hill, as a married couple in a new city. Lucas is a successful writer and Peyton runs a successful music venue and coffee house called “Peyton’s Place”. Their daughter Sawyer Scott is now a teenager and experiencing similar situations as her parents had in One Tree Hill.

“It’s Al” - This half hour sitcom follows Al Borland, from Home Improvement fame, as he gets promoted to an executive role at Binford Tools and deals with new silly situations as he adjusts to the corporate life.

“Ally McBeal” - Same title as the original show. Ally returns to open her own law practice in New York. She has a college-aged daughter from a prior marriage who is interesting in following in her mother’s footsteps as a lawyer. She deals with similar dating situations as her mother did in the original show.

“Meadow” - This hour long drama is a sequel to The Sopranos, with Meadow Soprano as the lead character now as a lawyer in New York attempting to pick up the pieces of her life after her father, Tony’s death. As a legal professional seeking justice, she tries to separate herself from her family’s history of crime but falls back into difficult situations involving her extended “family”. The question throughout the show is whether or not she is really going to stay the course as a lawyer for the good or if she is indeed the heiress to her father’s throne.

“WKRP” - This is a spinoff of WKRP in Cincinnati with a shortened title. This half hour sitcom takes place at the same fictional radio station made famous in the original 1970s sitcom, but in modern times with a new cast facing hilarious situations in radio’s drastically different environment than its predecessor.

Hope you enjoyed. Enjoy the day!

- C

An encouraging new chapter

2018-01-03T16:46:00.002-08:00

This past December, my wife and I closed a chapter in our lives when we sold our first home. While we were only there for a little over three years, we made it our own during that time and it had quickly become a place to call home. When we had first gotten the keys in late July of 2014, we had walked into an empty condo that needed a few touches of love. After some paint, decor, some furniture, and a few home-cooked meals it had become a cozy little relaxing place. During our time there, we shared a lot of laughs, tears, delicious dinners and milestones together. We brought our adorable cat, Pumpkin, home who has been a joy to both of us and a big part of our lives. Most of all, we’ve learned to grow as a married couple during those years by challenging each other to step out of our comfort zones into a new town and a new home with new responsibilities. While we are certainly going to miss our first home, we are happy that we had the opportunity to experience all that came with it and we are excited for the next chapter ahead of us.

My resolution this New Year is focused on embracing challenges with the utmost positivity and pushing myself to be better each and every day. There was a time where I did not always believe in my abilities. After looking back at the past decade, there are so many instances where I reminisce and smile thinking, wow, that was a difficult situation as I went into it, I figured out how to navigate and get through it and I gained something valuable from each one of those experiences. While nothing was easy by any means with some of those events and experiences over the past ten years being quite difficult, there were small victories in all of them. I learned to work hard, not overthink things too much (this is still a work in progress) and to have fun in the process.

My advice to everyone is to enjoy the ride, including all of the ups and downs, twists and turns and flips that may come with it each and every day. Surround yourself with loved ones, laugh and help pick each other up when needed. We are all humans. Words of encouragement can do wonders for someone’s day. Feel good about yourself.

You’ve got this.

Cheers!

Carl

Dear Sal

2018-01-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Sal,

My wife and I visited Patsy’s over the holiday season before seeing a broadway show. There are few better ways to compliment an evening in the city then by enjoying an intimate meal with a loved one. Your restaurant is truly one of our favorite stops when we are in New York City. The cuisine is always impeccable and the atmosphere is elegant, classy and welcoming. The Chicken Marsala and the Vodka Rigatoni were delectable. The cannoli cake was unbelievable too. Beyond the food, atmosphere and the tremendous service, I’ve always enjoyed the history of the restaurant and I always get a kick out of the cool pictures on the wall. Another aspect that my wife and I appreciate is how you always take the time to stop by the tables to say hello to everyone. You always make us feel right at home when we visit. We look forward to stopping in again soon.

Wishing you and everyone at Patsy’s a great New Year!

Sincerely,

Carl

A clean slate

2018-01-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

In what felt like a blink of an eye, 2017 is gone and 2018 is here. I am still in shock at how fast the past ten years have come and gone. A decade ago, I was in my second semester of college, essentially trying to figure who I wanted to be in regards to a career choice and what the right path for me was.

One of the courses I was taking during this time was called “Writing for Radio and Television”. Ten years later, I am excited to be returning to campus to teach a similar course called “Writing for Media” as an Adjunct Professor. I have always admired my college professors as they have helped make my decision to pursue a career in the multimedia and creative industries. I feel as if I have always been a natural storyteller from a young age. The media industry was an outlet where I could express myself while also building a career. I love the constant change and development of media technologies and platforms. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to navigate the media landscape with today’s students.

Aside from my career, I’ve graduated from college, gotten married, purchased and sold my first home over the course of the past decade. Along the way, I have certainly had a series of valuable learning experiences that I attribute to my personal growth. While there have been ups and downs, I have certainly learned a lot and I look forward to continuing to grow as a person as I approach my thirtieth birthday. Before jumping ahead to my thirties, I really want to make age 29 count.

If there was one resolution that I want to keep in tact this year, it would be to step out of my comfort zone and become a mentor and a good example for others. I encourage anyone who reads this to do the same and step out of your comfort zone, take chances and embrace change as it may lead to amazing new things. Embrace who you are and get excited about the future.

Cheers to 2018!

Enjoy.

Nostalgia and technology: A love story

2017-11-24T20:49:00.000-08:00

It all hit me on a bright early morning in Mexico last October. The sun was rising as I walked out on my balcony overlooking the Sea of Cortez. The sounds were minimal outside of waves crashing on the shore off in the distance. The colors from the land connected perfectly with the sky and the sea creating an impeccable vision of art only provided by the natural mysteries of the earth. My phone was nowhere to be found. Another time I was in the Rockie Mountains, roughly 12,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by the peaceful Colorado atmosphere without any cellular service. If there was a single pin dropping against the rocks, I would have heard it as I collected my thoughts and took in the sights of the gargantuan elements of the mountain I was on. These are things that I normally wouldn’t think about on an ordinary day, surrounded by the distractions of modern day technologies.

I recently had a discussion about bringing back flip phones and how it would impact our modern day society as a whole. Initially, I balked at the idea of trading the wonders and efficiencies of today’s technology for simpler technology. Although I still had skepticism, I thought about it some more and realized that we may be overconnected.

Before smartphones, I had spent hours in front of my laptop on a regular basis instead of my smartphone. While the paradigm is similar, the difference was the separation between myself and the digital universe once I turned the power off. After the screen went dark, I was no longer bombarded by forms of messaging, content, advertising, and distractions throughout my daily routines.

For those who may feel overwhelmed by the twenty-four seven nature of Internet connected technologies, this could be an opportunity to take a step back and embrace a retroactive technology boom. I do wonder if we have truly reached a breaking point where technology has become too much to where they are no longer tools for efficiency but overbearing platforms that demand so much of our time and attention that they become counterproductive. Will this eventually spark a rise of things from a simpler time? Only time will tell.

These ideas lead to a trip down memory lane for me. Recently, I jumped on web.archive.org and revisited some of the old Myspace and Facebook sites to reminisce my high school and college years. I was amazed at how the plain blue basic layout that I was staring at would become one of the most powerful entities in the modern-day world. These websites were basic but cool at the time. As I continued to browse, a bunch of questions popped into my head. Should we revert back to older technologies or should we keep progressing forward to concepts like augmented reality. It appears that there is a major thirst for nostalgia in modern day culture. Old video games, like the NES and SNES classic are some of the hottest selling items today. Shows like Stranger Things, which highlights 80s nostalgia, is wildy popular. Twin Peaks, Will and Grace, The X-Files and Full House (now Fuller House) have been revived.

Is clinging to nostalgia an attempt to bring back “the good old days”? Should we move on and try focus our attention on enjoy the moment that we are currently living? When I think back at how cool these shows and items are now, I realized that they just felt normal ten or fifteen years ago. Back then I didn't think to myself that this content was the greatest thing ever.

I think that many of us romanticize the great times of the past to mask the struggles of present day without realizing that things weren't perfect back then. The struggle of uncertainty was always there and still is. While this may be true, I do romanticize about an era when you called and left a message on an answering machine or knocked on a door to see if a friend was home.

While these practices may be things of the past, there is no doubt that there are so many reasons to praise modern day technology. From a business standpoint, we are in the greatest era for technology. Efficiency is at an all time high and opportunities for entrepreneurial ventures and philanthropic initiatives are endless. The Internet provides an opportunity for virtually anyone to capitalize on the ability to reach a global marketplace in an extremely simple and cost efficient way. I personally enjoy technology and all of its offerings however I do think that it is healthy to take a step back and take a break from tech. Like almost anything or any activity, finding a balance is the key to finding the happy medium.

- C

Diamonds: An elegant experience

2017-07-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

For those who are looking for a nice evening out together in the local central New Jersey area with a dining experience that is sure to please, look no further than Diamonds, located in Pennington. Originally located in the Chambersburg section of Trenton before relocating to Pennington, Diamonds has become a tradition for Italian dining and one of the premier restaurant staples in the area.

I visited Diamonds for the first time last night with a friend for dinner. We sat in the bar area, which was very nice. The atmosphere was extremely relaxing. I started off with a glass of Chateau Rose as we shared a hot seafood appetizer with calamari, clams and mussels over a spicy marinara sauce. Unbelievable! For my main entree, I ordered one of my all time favorite dishes, the classic shrimp scampi, which was cooked to perfection with a ton of flavor. To finish off the meal, we ordered creme brulee for dessert. I can honestly say that this was the best creme brulee that I have ever had. It was creamy and delicious in every way imaginable and the perfect way to finish a tremendous meal.

If you are a fan of fine dining, please visit Diamonds. I highly recommend and I am sure that you will not be disappointed.

Incredible guacamole: Tacos Cancun

2017-07-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, Natalie and I were on a mission to find some really good authentic Mexican cuisine in the local central New Jersey area. When visiting the Lambertville area recently, we came across Tacos Cancun, a small local restaurant off of Main Street. We are big on supporting local businesses and trying local restaurants to sample their craft. We were not disappointed at Tacos Cancun. Natalie and I both had ordered chicken tacos as our main dish with a guacamole appetizer, which is traditionally one of our favorite additions to any meal. The guacamole itself was well worth the trip. The portion was generous and the texture was smooth, creamy and flavorful. I could have made a meal out of this alone with some of the fresh chips that they had served with it. As someone who has been to Mexico a few times, I would say that this guacamole was equally as delicious as some of the best guacamole that I've had in Puerto Los Cabos.

If you are in the local Lambertville or right across the bridge in New Hope, stop by and visit Tacos Cancun. Friendly service, reasonable prices, delicious authentic Mexican cuisine.

Looking Back: Mike Tyson vs. Michael Spinks

2017-07-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

This fight had all of the aspects of a big fight feel. Two undefeated veterans in their own respects going head to head for the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship of the World. The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City was jammed to the rafters as the buildup and anticipation of two of the sport's greatest contestants and future Hall of Famers, were about to square off to decide who was simply the best heavyweight in the game amongst all of the glitz and glamour that came along with Atlantic City in the late 1980s. Don King was the promoter of the event while Donald Trump's Trump Plaza Casino played host. Muhammad Ali was in the ring prior to the fight and was greeted to a warm reception by the audience.

While, the main event was most certainly the talk of Atlantic City that night, the undercard also featured two notable names, James "Buster" Douglas and Trevor Berbick. Both of these fighters had close ties to the Mike Tyson legacy. Tyson knocked out Berbick in 1986 to capture the WBC Heavyweight Title, which was now on the line in the main event against Spinks. Buster Douglas would earn worldwide recognition just two years later as he would become the first fighter ever to knock out Mike Tyson, earning the Undisputed Championship, that Tyson would win in this fight against Spinks.

During the introductions by Michael Buffer, Tyson looked full of energy as he bounced around the ring ready as anyone could seemingly ever be. Spinks remained calm with little expression before the bell sounded. As the fight began, both boxers charged forward with their hands held high. Tyson fires off a few quick shots early. It appeared that Spinks was caught off guard and did not expect the power that Tyson had brought forward. The two fighters dodged around the ring. Spinks tried to get a few jabs in but remained on the defense for most of the round. Shortly after, Tyson cornered Spinks for a few shots before firing a vicious uppercut against the ropes to score the first knockdown. Spinks was able to recover only before taking another right hand and going down once again this time to defeat. As the referee counted to ten, the bell sounded and Mike Tyson was the winner and left no doubt that he was the true number one heavyweight in the world, now recognized across the board as the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion.

Tyson's career would continue on. Michael Spinks retired shortly after. One could only imagine what might have happened if Michael Spinks had continued his career. What would have happened if the fight went a little bit longer? Could we have seen a rematch? If Spinks were to pull off the victory, the landscape of professional boxing would have most surely looked different for many years after. While this fight in particular was undeniably brief and one-sided it was surely one of the most memorable moments and an important bout that would hold a place in boxing history forever.

The road ahead for Jeff Horn

2017-07-11T21:00:00.000-07:00

The latest controversial figure in the world of professional boxing has a tough road ahead. The newly crowned WBO Welterweight Champion has his work cut out for him in the upcoming months and year to erase the fury surrounded by the critically panned title victory decision in his favor over future boxing Hall of Famer and fan favorite, Manny Pacquiao. While the WBO has announced that they will be re-scoring the fight, the decision will not change and the title will stay with Horn. Ultimately, the re-scoring of the contest will theoretically cause even more frustration among fans and analysts as the new result could potentially favor Manny Pacquiao and solidify that the wrong man was awarded the championship. I am not upset with Jeff Horn. He showed tremendous heart and toughness in his outing against a legend and showed a lot of class and character before, during and after the fight. He was not scoring the fight. Horn was only doing what he could do and that was to fight to the best of his ability. At the end of the day, Jeff Horn is your WBO Welterweight Champion whether anyone likes it or not. There are a few options for the new champion to earn his place in the ranks of the best welterweights as a true champion.

The first the comes to mind is an immediate rematch with Manny Pacquiao. If Horn can avenge this bout with a decisive knockout or decision over Pacquiao in a rematch, it will silence some of the doubters and lessen some of the backlash in the media. Horn can also prove himself by challenging Keith Thurman and Errol Spence, the number one and number two recognized welterweights at the top of the division and holders of the other World Welterweight Titles. Despite holding the WBO title, getting to a matchup with either one of these could also involve defeating some other viable contenders like a Shawn Porter, Kell Brook or Danny Garcia, who have sizable resumes and have earned their respective spots. The only true way that Jeff Horn can silence the critics is to fight and win without question. The spotlight is now on Mr. Horn in a big way. We'll all be watching to see what happens next.

Should Andre Ward leave Roc Nation?

2017-07-10T17:54:00.002-07:00

Don't get me wrong. I love Jay Z and all of his contributions to the world of music and his passion and drive for business but lets face it. He has the number one pound for pound best professional boxer on the planet under his Roc Nation banner. Ward who just came off of his second straight victory against one of the toughest light heavyweights in the world, Sergey Kovalev. Somehow the rematch which theoretically carried a great deal of intrigue seemed to perform worse of on Pay-Per-View than their first bout coupled with a less than full house in Las Vegas. Andre Ward has all of the talent in the world, an undefeated record and a tremendous amount of charisma. This cannot fall on him personally. There must be more attention placed on him by the promoters.

Fans of boxing will still turn out for a well-promoted fight. Floyd Mayweather, who has traditionally been a defensive fighter who in my opinion does not put on a very exciting fight in the ring, has the ability to draw a sum of money in one night that would equal the net worth of an international pop star. Canelo Alvarez has the ability to draw a solid buyrate. Manny Pacquiao drew over four million viewers on ESPN recently to one of the best ratings that the network has had in years for a boxing match. Anthony Joshua is showing signs of becoming a megastar with great numbers after his fight against Wladimir Klitschko in April. There is also a tremendous amount of excitement and anticipation for Mayweather vs. McGregor toward the end of the summer, which is projected to produce or rival record numbers on all accounts.

With all of this being said, Andre Ward deserves more for what he has accomplished. Roc Nation needs to build the platform to showcase what could be their biggest opportunity in their organization's history.

Digital versatility: Blogging

2017-07-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

I am a big proponent of being as versatile as possible. Lets face it. The world is changing in a multitude of ways. Many things are being automated and aspects of work that we once knew are unfortunately going by the wayside. One of the biggest ways to counter these changes are to learn new skills and as many of them as possible. By doing so, you will theoretically find success in a sector of industry. There is even a chance that you can turn a passion that you might have into a career of your own. If you are in the creative field or have a skill of some sort, there is most likely a market out there that would be interested in your insight. The challenge is to find a way to tap into that particular market. Luckily the power of the Internet makes this possible in a number of ways. Blogging is one of them.

This right here is a blog. I am sharing my thoughts on a particular subject and you can easily do it as well for no investment whatsoever. Its plain and simple. Pick a topic of expertise or a skill that you have and launch a blog on one of the many free blogging platforms that exist like this one, Blogger. Post consistently about relevant topics and create corresponding social media accounts to build an audience with. Through consistency and uniqueness of your content coupled with an audience that you have grown over time, there is a possibility that you can monetize your blogging content. While a large following is needed to generate a significant amount of revenue, it is indeed possible. Even if your blog does not generate revenue, it could potentially open up new doors of opportunities through connections and meeting people who enjoy your content. Even if keeping your blog is simply a hobby, it could be a source of fun and fulfillment for you.

Have fun and enjoy the day!

- C

Cutting the cord

2017-07-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

I finally did something that I would never do. I cut the cord and cancelled cable. Honestly after a week of no longer having cable television in my house, I thought I would notice it more and I haven't. For those who haven't ventured this route before, it takes a little bit of prep work, a modern digital television and a media stick of some sort (i.e. Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, etc.) to get started. If you watch Netflix or another "over-the-top" service like Hulu 95 percent of the time like I do, this is a great way to save a few bucks every month. I am normally on my phone or laptop most of the time, but when I am not consuming digital media, I am dabbling in a few reruns of The Office or Cheers. The only new show that I am watching at the moment (which is awesome by the way) is Billions on Showtime. I signed up for the Showtime streaming app for around eleven bucks on my Apple TV a few months back to watch the Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko fight (which was worth every penny) and ended up getting into Billions afterwards. I use this to watch Billions and some boxing cards and Netflix for the rest. For sports, there is always the option of getting an inexpensive digital antenna which will get you most of the traditional major broadcast networks from the area. It still amazes me how much content consumption has changed over the past ten years. I am intrigued to see what comes next.

Cheers!

- C

Enjoying the ride

2017-05-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

Every now and again I seem to get stuck in a whirlwind of nostalgia and a roadblock in the present day with the mindset that everything was great "back in the day". Another roadblock that tends to coincide with this nostalgic wave is the concept placing all of my hope into gaining personal milestones in the future without stopping to enjoy every last minute of the present day. Its a constant struggle that I need to constantly remind myself over and over again. I started this blog in 2009 when I was 20 years old. Eight years later at age 28, I am a completely different person from when I first began this. Since then I have graduated college, started a career, got married, purchased a home and in a few short months I will be completing my Master degree program. It took a lot of drive, focus and dedication to accomplish all that I have in an eight year window. While I am pleased with where I am at, I am excited for what the future holds. A few pieces of advice that I learned when looking back on the past eight years is that I need to stress less about the future, stop looking back so much, enjoy every last second of life, work hard but also have fun and do what you can to help others with the gifts that you have. This is what I am going to work on personally. I encourage everyone to do so as well. Enjoy the ride.

Cheers!
-C

Loving Love: Season 2

2017-03-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm about half way through the second season of Love. Mr. Apatow has found a way to do it again. This Netflix original is not only funny in a humble yet smart and edgy way, it is something that I feel anyone can relate to. Paul Rust really hits a homerun as the main character, Gus. His personality contrasts really well with his love interest Mickey. They're portrayal paints a very realistic picture of people dealing with ordinary problems trying to find their way. If you haven't checked it out yet, please do yourself a favor. You won't be disappointed. Enjoy! C