The death of Dylan McKay

It is not often I write about celebrity deaths. Most celebrities, even athletes, have very little impact on my life. There are, however, a few exceptions:  Lou Gehrig, Pete Sampras, Paul O'Neil, Nick Lachey and Luke Perry. The big "five" as you might call my short list are the exception. Anything these celebrities/athletes go through, I am on top of it. I'd like to think that nothing escapes this fan.  These five are always on my radar. Sadly, up until March 4th, my list only had one deceased member on it (Gehrig--who was overwhelmingly the oldest on the list). Now, Luke Perry has joined Lou and for the first time in my life, I am mourning the death of a person I never met.
I grew up in the 90's, when 90210 was the show. I admit I was caught up in the hype from the moment I first saw the show...but that moment didn't come when the show premiered in 1990. I was only 7 years old at that time and my parents did not allow me to watch 90210. When I was in high school, around 1996, reruns of the show began coming on TV, and my parents skeptically but willingly allowed me to start tuning in to episodes of the famous zip code. I still remember seeing Luke Perry's character, Dylan McKay, for the first time. I thought I was in love. He was the guy I wanted to date! He liked poetry. He surfed. Dylan McKay instantly became one of my favorite characters of all time.  It's true Luke was really a teen idol and that elevated his stardom beyond what he probably even expected. The older I got and the more I followed Luke's career, I realized he was more than just a pretty face. You rarely heard anything about him in the media. Before social media and even before the Internet became prevalent in our society, Luke's face was plastered over teen magazines. You had to dig to find any information about him. When I went away to college, I took my Luke Perry pillow with me. I left my puzzle wall-sized picture of him behind in my childhood bedroom. Luke stayed with me when I bought my new apartment, where I proudly displayed the puzzle in my dining area for seven years. When I got married, my husband even wondered what my captivation with Mr. Perry was all about. I even wanted to name one of our sons Luke. Luke means "light" and that name sure suited the actor best (though his real name is Coy).
There was something so very special about this man, not just his portrayal of Dylan McKay the ultimate bad boy with a poetic side. That in itself was great. But Luke the actor, the person, was somewhat just as mysterious as his 90210 character. Perhaps that's what really drew me to Luke. He was the Sampras of the entertainment world. He flew under the radar and was overshadowed by many other handsome men, similar to Paul O'Neil on the World Series winning Yankee teams. Luke was a raw talent from Ohio, just like 98 degrees' Nick Lachey. He was humble, like the Iron Horse himself Lou Gehrig. Tragically and ironically, Luke's life was cut short just like Lou's life. Luke Perry embodied all the traits I would come to love and know about my most admired famous men. Still, he was an individual----with a family of his own. My heart breaks for his closest family and friends. What I knew of Luke can't compare to what they knew of the real Luke Perry. To me, he was just a dream, someone to inspire and touch my heart from a distance. Luke Perry, may you rest in peace. You were pulled away too soon.

Old 90210 post

In honor of Luke Perry, I am sharing a post I wrote in 2009:

One year from today the date on the calendar will read: 90210. In honor of my favorite show, I thought I would dedicate a blog entry to the athletic themes and professional athletes appearing throughout the ten year reign of 90210.

The first glimpse of sport I remember from the early high school years was in episode two, “The Green Room”. Brandon and Brenda Walsh discovered their companion Dylan’s love for surfing. Brandon often accompanied Dylan McKay and his female friend, “Betty” on their surfing ventures. The Walsh twins would perform CPR and rescue Betty during a surfing accident later in the episode. It was the first of many heroic gestures of the series by Brandon. Brandon could be seen roller blading in the summer or riding a bike when his car didn’t do the job. Early in the series, viewers also learned about Brandon’s love for the game of hockey. Growing up in Minnesota exposed the high school heartthrob to the ice. He even briefly dated an ice skater after he moved to Beverly Hills, but the relationship did not last long. Brandon flirted with basketball in season one too. He tried out for the Beverly Hills High team with his friend, Steve Sanders. Brandon and Steve grew suspicious of the more talented players brought in from out of district. Steve was quite athletic and very into sports. He nailed a halftime shot at an LA Lakers game later on in high school. Brandon, on the other hand, was more successful as a sports writer. He depicted several football games and covered all the Varsity sports at the Sports Editor of the “Beverly Blaze.” In season two’s “Competitive Edge” episode, he exposed the rampant steroid use in the school’s corrupt athletic department. Brandon wasn’t always a whistleblower. He would take the field again when he and Dylan volunteered to coach a local Little League team. Dylan was not your typical jock but was an ocean lover. He taught his stepsister, Erica, how to swim and got into a surfing accident in season two. His buddy Brandon was more of a gym rat, especially when he was picking up women in season four. Brandon also studiously strapped on the ice skates in Season 7 for a charity hockey event. Cam Neely appeared in the episode “Face-Off”, where Brandon competed against Tom Miller. Tom was hot for Brandon’s ex-girlfriend, Kelly Taylor.

Football was the focus during season six. Donna Martin began dating the quarterback of California University, Joe Bradley. Joe’s professional idol, Steve Young, made a cameo on 90210 during the season six Thanksgiving episode. Quarterback Bradley had some major heart problems that threatened his football career, however. He would not go on to the NFL like Young. The Rose Bowl parade was featured in the episode, “Turn Back The Clock”. Donna made the final cut of the Tournament Of Roses and sat on the float New Years’ Day. Winter in Beverly Hills during the characters’ junior year in college was eventful sporting-wise. The group took a ski trip in “All This and Mary Too”. Susan Keats challenged her boyfriend Brandon to a ski race. The couple left their designated run and ended up getting lost in the cold weather. Steve took to the squash/racquetball courts near the end of season six with his pal, Prince Carl. The rich Carl also participated in polo and the group made an effort to watch him play.

Other athletes made guest appearances on 90210. Olympic gymnast, Kerri Strugg complained about her college schedule in front of an awe-stricken David Silver during registration. Howie Long greeted Steve and Brandon at the LA airport in the first episode of the fifth season. The most criticized athlete of the last decade, Barry Bonds, had a goofy stint on the show. Bonds appeared as a celebrity friend of Rush Sanders in a golf outing in his pre-BALCO days. Matthew Perry portrayed an athlete in the episode, “April is the Cruelest Month”. Perry played the part of the high school’s number one tennis player who secretly wanted to kill his father. Talk about dramatic. Many of the main characters swung the racquet too. Brandon, Steve and Valerie all took part in the great game during the spectacular series. In season eight, Noah Hunter related to his dad only through baseball. After his father committed suicide, Noah took an autographed ball and smacked it through a set of trees in anger. Gina Kincaid was introduced in season nine as Donna’s stepsister. Gina, a former ice skater, developed more intense issues than competing once she moved to the famous zipcode.

I hope you enjoyed my little article. It was enjoyable for me to reflect on such a terrific show.

Parting points: “I like your butt…I mean your bike”—Brenda Walsh to Dylan McKay

Literary Break

It has been over a year since I last blogged about anything. Sometimes I wonder where the time went, and other times it feels like only yesterday I was submitting daily blog entries on my first blog, Athlete Alliteration. Today, I decided to fill the blank pages in front of my face. I have missed writing and reflecting. Life had taken over this past year, and writing hits the backseat whenever that occurs (in my experience). My kids certainly entertain my most prominent thoughts, as they should. They take precedence over writing any day. But, I've found myself extremely lost and unsatisfied without writing. I need something to fill that void.
I've picked up some other writing tasks lately, including content writing. It's opened my mind and eyes to various topics, while enhancing and improving my writing and paraphrasing skills. These are paid gigs too, which is always a plus. Although I do enjoy writing non-fiction, product reviews and about technical topics, my passion is for journaling and fiction. In the back of my mind, I have always had the idea that I would author at least one novel in my lifetime. I have several works in progress I hope one day will come to novel fruition. Perhaps I am a romanticizing my love of writing. If I am honest with myself, I know I would need to put in more effort and more work. Both require more time on my part, something that I currently have very little to spare or share.
Along with my writing lull, I've also been in a tennis slump. It's true I just had a baby in April so playing tennis hasn't really been a top of the mind event in our lives as a family of four. We spend our weekends going to the park or attending kiddie events instead. My husband and I need a date night consisting of adult activities in the worst way. I imagine this is how it is for most married couples with younger children.
I don't want my literary break to extend any longer than it has. So here is my very lame but first attempt back in the world of personal blogging. It may not be my best material, but at least I am putting words on paper.

Wave Jumpers

I loved visiting the Jersey Shore as a child and teenager. Some of my favorite childhood memories occurred in or around the Atlantic Ocean. My dad used to go in the ocean with me. We were wave jumpers, which simply means we'd wait for a wave to crest and then try to jump over it. It was fun to see how high we could jump. Sometimes, I'd jump so high I'd come crashing back down on my face into the salty water. My dad and I would share a laugh or two and do it all over again. And again.

Waves are a lot like fatherhood, I would imagine. Dads see their children through the peaks of their lives, or the crests. They also witness the troughs, the lowest points where there are hollows and long depressions. This is true of my father. He's been by my side for most of the happy moments. We jumped waves together on the ball field, tennis court and at various recognition award banquets. We've experienced family trips to places like Niagara Falls and Hershey Park. He's seen the milestones of me growing up, landing my first job, and getting my own place. We've experienced the crests together, whether it be my wedding day or his retirement. I've seen him at this best and it never fails to make me a proud daughter.

The troughs of life are unavoidable at times. We come down off the highest of waves to find ourselves in the lowest of places. Dad stood by me when I messed up, fell down and needed direction. He was there when Mom got sick, when I broke my wrist and when I made poor decisions. A dad is someone who jumps the waves with you and crashes down with you. I think the most important part of being a father, or a parent, is to be there for your child. Spend time with them. It doesn't matter if you are together at the crests or the troughs. It's the entire ride together that counts in the end.

The Answers

I don't have all of life's answers. There are questions I have that I will never be able to answer. I wonder why God allows sadness to enter the hearts of men and women. Must we experience sadness to truly know His love for us?
He doesn't call us to be someone we are not. He calls us to rise to the challenge of life's circumstances, even if that challenge brings us sadness. I've found that in my own life this applies: the deeper the sadness, the greater the faith. I've wrestled with sadness, and overcome that sadness with faith and hope.  Is sadness always justified? Or, are there times when we are simply feeling sorry for ourselves?
I know one thing. I know whenever sad feelings creep inside or rear their ugly head, I simply need to grab my tennis racquet and head to the courts. Though it may not be a permanent coping mechanism, tennis always gives me a sense of fulfullment and purpose. A sense of stability. It's what I do. I play tennis. It's where I feel most like myself. Tennis has never caused me any sadness. Yes, it's been upsetting or frustrating or tiring or overwhelming at times. But never has it spurred feelings of sadness. There is only one other condition that I can say this about, and that is God. God in all his ambiguity has never made me sad.
I started writing this most on January 15th and today is February 11th. I didn't really have a purpose at first. I started writing it, searching for answers to questions about sadness. One year ago today I was hospitalized for premature labor contractions. Our son's heartrate had dropped and my doctor was concerned. I remember thinking, "today is the day. This is it. I am going to have this baby today". The birth of our son didn't happen until eleven more days. In all this speculation about sadness and His love for us, I can't help but think about anxiety. Sometimes anxiety and sadness go hand-in-hand. During the anxious moments of our lives, such as premature labor, God tends to mold is into something 'more'.  He shows us that He is in control. We only need to sit back and wait to see what He does. I think this principle can also be applied to times of sadness.
If you are going through a sad time in your life, take heart. God is in control of it all.

Years Gone By

Years Gone By
You gave me my first full-time job and believed in me while I was still unproven.
You taught me how to run a business.
You trusted me enough to promote and market that business.
You showed me how to leave my heart on the tennis court.
You laughed with me; you cried with me.
You held me accountable for my own happiness.
You promised me that when I had kids I'd understand what's really important in life.
I promised you I'd never give up on myself.
From our first business meeting at Howell's Cafe to the last goodbye in your hospital bed,
As the years go by, who you were remains to me.

Respect at the All-England Club

When I was ten, Wimbledon was the dream. More than any other tennis major, I wanted to play on Center Court at the All-Englad Club. I had only played on one grass court my entire childhood, but still I knew a good thing when I saw it. My tennis idol, Pete Sampras won 7 of his 14 grand slam titles at Wimbledon.  Pete’s 1996 five-set gut-wrencher against Alex Correja at the U.S. Open quarterfinal is my most memorable of his professional matches,but it’s the Sampras clad in all-white that sticks in my mind. There is just something about the grass court championship that seems a little heavenly. It seems a little out of place, in a good way, in this unsettling world. Wimbledon is the most prestigious and oldest tournamant in the sport. Perhaps it is the dress code that evokes images of heaven. Or, it could be the royal purple color that stands next to the deep green.  Usually, there are “royals” in the stands too. Maybe it’s the stadium delicacies that the tournament has become so famous for serving spectators that seems too good to be true. Where else can you go to get a healthy and unique stadium staple, strawberries and cream, than in England? The men who enter the Wimbledon draw are dubbed “gentlemen”. Where else do you see that in sport? Wimbledon is special indeed, and playing there must be invigorating and pristine.

In light of all the recent events that are taking place in the United States and abroad, I think what I love most about this lawn championship is the respect it upholds. The players show respect for the game and for each other when they step out onto the grass. Angelique Kerber lost a two-set women’s championship final yesterday to Serena Williams. Even in her defeat, Kerber sent out a congratulatory tweet to her opponent.  Williams notched an historic 22^nd major with the victory over the fourth seeded German. Serena has dominated women’s tennis for decades, and yet winning at Wimbledon still seems like such a prestigious honor for the veteran player. The tournament commands respect in ways that make me turn my head from the tragedies of our nation to the smaller world of tennis. I used to dream of swinging my Wilson racquet on Center Court, yes. But even more than that, I used to imagine a world where we showed respect for all people, where all lives mattered.

As the Rudyard Kipling quote that sits above the player’s entrance to Center Court reads:
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same..."

Let us treat everyone with the same respect we expect to be given. Let us embrace our sameness more than ever. Let us share in victory—because when all is said and done, we all win if we stick together and remember Him who created us. I hope you enjoy breakfast at Wimbledon on this beautiful July Sunday, where the beloved Brit, Andy Murray takes on first time finalist, Canadian Milos Raonic. Expect greatness. Expect sportsmanship. Expect respect.