Tag: nate-the-great

What do you mean Romanticize Your Life? When Someone Hurts You, and Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 4 on the Torg Stories Podcast

In this episode we’re pointed to the TikTok trend Romanticize Your Life, we talk working out, how to handle someone hurting you, and Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 4.

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Before we get to the podcast notes, I think through coaches calling late-game timeouts to advance the ball to half court. That situation certainly had my attention this week with all of the basketball I have watched this week. Coach Calipari of Arkansas took a lot of heat for not calling one with six seconds left in their loss to Texas Tech. The philosophy he explained after the game is pretty much what I believe: if our team can push the ball against a defense that isn’t set, I usually like that situation better than giving the other team a chance to get organized and maybe do something different defensively. In my history of coaching, I have also heard Bob Knight and Phil Jackson explain that same strategy of not calling timeout, pushing pace, and seeing if you can get a good shot against a defense that is trying to organize.

I’d add the caveat that I try to get close to the official and the second I see that we’re not playing with pace or that we’re looking uncertain, then I call the timeout. The players know this is my strategy, and we’ve practiced it. Two other variables (1) What are the strength of your players? (2) How much do you like your late game out of bounds plays?

Calling late game timeouts did much more harm than good in the women’s games this week because a high percentage of the teams who called timeout to advance the ball and set up a play ended up turning the ball over. I also saw teams with the lead get late game rebounds with less than 20 seconds left in the game call timeout when they probably could have ran at least 5 and maybe 10 seconds off the clock. Instead, they called timeout to advance the ball and then turned it over trying to get in.

Torg Life Snapshot:

  1. Tournaments delivering on introducing me to new people and buzzer beaters.
  2. Late game timeouts have been driving me crazy. Maybe if the teams executed their sideline out of bounds plays, I would change my mind about the strategy.
  3. LeBron had an interesting week. Went on Pat McAfee and said stuff about Stephen A Smith and Brian Windhorst. Tipped in the game winner vs. the Pacers. Then made an incredibly bad turnover against the Bulls where the Bulls scored 9 points in 12.6 seconds to come from 5 down to win. (By the way-great sideline out of bounds execution from the Bulls).

Summary and Discussion Questions for Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 4 titled “Big Week”

  • Roy bangs on Jamie’s door to train at 4AM. Roy says they do it early so they can get three workouts in. This is something Kobe famously did.

Anne, when were you locked in working out?

  1. I was steady going to the park throughout high school but didn’t really know what I was doing. I used to have you and mom rebound two balls for me.
  2. Freshman year college I added weight lifting and swimming after practice. I often went up to the track at Olivet and ran a mile after practice.
  3. Junior and senior year I got into getting up at 5AM to workout with Gary Tidwell before practice.
  4. Marathon training: 10 800s on the track were memorable. I ended up liking running in the dark after school on Fridays instead of Saturday mornings.
  5. Now most of my lifts are with my kids. I work in treadmill runs and runs at the Valle Crucis park.

Back to Ted Lasso:

  • Nate has a model of a pitch in his room. He knocks down Ted. He seems to feel bad about that. He seems more conflicted about his path?
  • Ted has a picture by his bed that was signed by Nate. Sassy is getting dressed. Sassy Smurf and Marlboro Man. Ted explores possibility of being a couple with Sassy. How do you like them together? How big of a mess is Ted? Divorce as mess maker. People do need time, I think. I guess some don’t take it. I like the “I’m a mess too, but I’m further down the timeline.”
  • They talk Uber ratings. Fun! Sassy is a good character.
  • Keeley’s CFO Barbara asks for tickets. Keeley didn’t realize her boss was Jack Danvers. The VC that funds her PR firm.
  • Beard and Roy talk to Higgins about what Nate’s plan will be. How often am I surprised? Nate is in their head. Getting the best player to buy in. JJ and Lebron.
  • KISS: Keep it Simple Smarty Pants. An answer will show up. Diamond Dog meeting. Beard says Ted is a mess. You are acting like he didn’t hurt you.
  • Beard says, “Pain is Like Carbon Monoxide. Expressing it can open the vent.”

Potential Times I’ve Been Hurt and How I Handled It

  1. Basketball parents who hated me in my first coaching job. Does that count as being hurt?
  2. Divorce
  3. Grad professors.
  4. Professionally at SJU and Greenwood. (admins, colleagues, parents)
  5. How often have I talked it out with the person I believed hurt me?
  6. Hurt often goes both ways. People hurt each other.
  • Zava to the team: Ignore the talking faces even when they are in our favor. Dream big and you may never wake up.
  • Nate goes to talk to Jade. She comically just kind of looks at him and doesn’t talk. Brags about his new job. She thinks his name is Jason Jelly. Derek is the manager and is excited to see Nathan. Go Hammers! Jade is Polish and named Edyta Budnik.
  • Coaches office. Beard has Ted watch a video of Nate ripping up the believe sign. Nate is pathetic in lots of ways.
  • Rupert and Nate talk. Nate says he hasn’t seen Ted since he left. Rupert: You look him in the eye, you shake his hand, and then you beat him.
  • Michelle, ex wife, texts him. Ted goes back to look at the Dr. Jacob texts. Rebecca stops in. She really wants to win. You can want to win too much, is how I approach these situations. He asks Rebecca is he is a mess? “Oklahoma” is the word when you have to tell the truth. Think that might have come from Ted and his ex wife. Wisdon from Ted to Rebecca: You already won, you know?
  • Keeley is nervous about meeting Jack. Rebecca runs into Rupert and his new wife Bex. Ted will see Nate.
  • Keeley asks for a tampon from the next stall. Reminds me of Seinfeld and Elaine asking if the person could spare a square.
  • Nate faces the corner in the elevator with Ted. Almost apologizes. Elevator opens and Rupert has his cape on.
  • Keeley meets Jack and Jack says, I believe you have something of mine. What do you make of Jack so far?
  • 2-nil at halftime. Rebecca is losing it. I believe in you Ted. And it’s intense.
  • Roy and Beard show the video at halftime.

Anne, are you capable of becoming extra motivated? What motivates me?

  1. Mostly self driven
  2. Having lost, trying to find the approach that can lead to winning
  3. Celebratory behavior by the opponent
  4. Other people thinking they are better than me or a coach thinking a player was better than me.
  5. I do think I responded to getting yelled at.
  • Even though playing the video backfired, it was worth it for me the way they looked at Nate.
  • We see Rupert making out with someone not his wife. Oh, it’s that assistant.
  • Roy and Beard know they messed up and own it immediately. Ted: tried something new, didn’t work, big whoop.
  • I notice I have started saying big whoop.
  • Bones and Honey again! From Beard After Hours. Rupert is bringing Nate into his sleazy cheating world. The cheaters hope everyone will cheat too.
  • Shandy changed the bio line for bantr. Anne, does Keeley need to get rid of Shandy?
  • I was emotionally moved: Roy bangs on the door and Jamie is ready with his headlamp. Let’s go!
  • Ted doesn’t finish his drink. Maybe he is going to be less of a mess. Ted makes use of the carbon dioxide metaphor and opens a vent by telling Michelle that he is angry about Dr. Jacob. We gotta raise this little boy together. We’re stuck with each other. We’re going to share grandkids. I love our family no matter what it looks like.
  • Bob Dylan song to end it. “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.”

Gen Z TikTok Romanticize Your Life Segment (produced by Izzy Torg)

  1. If we were coming up with a way to say “Romanticize Your Life” in our own words, what would it be? Do a little something nice for yourself. Is it a little treat for yourself? One of the videos we looked at said, Keep the Horrors at Bay.
  2. My ideas for myself: a short nap, berries on my morning yogurt, reading during the day, doing this pod, walking the dog at Valle Crucis listening to a podcast letting Indy lay down in the river,
  3. One of the videos said dramatically extinguish the candles.
  4. Do we think this is stupid? I don’t. People are posting ways they like to treat themselves. No complaints.
  5. Extra question: if you’re going to treat yourself (try to keep the horrors at bay, do you buy yourself anything?) Maybe a milkshake.

Thanks for checking out this episode of the podcast!

Dealing with Doubt, Our Work Personas, and Ted Lasso Season 3 Premiere

Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast at TheTorg.com. I’m Bill Torg. I’ve got round 3 of North Carolina girls basketball playoffs coming up next Tuesday. It’s the last week before spring break at App State, Gene Hackman his wife and dog are mysteriously dead, and I’ve got more interested in Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy than I usually do. Anne, how do you orient yourself to this time and place?

On this episode we’re talking about dealing with doubt, our work personas, and the Ted Lasso Season 3 Premiere titled “Smells Like Mean Spirit.”

Notes and Discussion prompts for Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 1: “Smells Like Mean Spirit”

  • The episodes always start with a black screen and sound. Ted looks bummed at the airport. Seems like he gets a text from his wife Michelle. Tricking us a bit. Ted’s son Henry flying home. He was playing Super Smash Brothers. What are your favorite Nintendo games?
  • Cut to Ted in the cab talking to Doc Sharon. He has a Ted Lasso lego set. Is a sense of automomy good for Henry at age 10, flying across the earth by himself? What do you remember about childhood play around the age of 10?
  • Sharon saying: Doubt can only be removed by action. Sharon has a young man in her bed.
  • Rebekah sits in her office with Higgins angry about predictions about the upcoming season. Anne, who goes to the NBA finals? Who wins? Ted comes in and talks about his kid flying home. Charlotte two flights to Milwaukee. Megan drove there.
  • “Tinkle on your toenails,” said Ted. “I predict their predictions are wrong.”
  • Gene Hackman is talked about because Roy watched Hoosiers. He liked the drunk geezer. Gene opens our show every week: “Team!”
  • Roy says it’s more important to be solid than clever when you’re the underdogs. This seem true?
  • Nate arrives to coach in his little green car. He doesn’t greet anyone. He’s the anti Ted Lasso. Anne, how are you entering the building?
  • Training. Paddington Bear Twitter pretty funny. Ted decides to take the team somewhere. I remember a story of Coach K having Duke play volleyball.
  • Crying is the best, said Rebecca. Keeley cried all over Rebecca’s shirt. Keeley says, Let Ted be Ted. What would you say that means?
  • Nate at training. “The dumb dumb line.” Then hops to it to go see Mr. Mannion. Just because my name is Disco, doesn’t mean we get to party?
  • The majesty of the London sewer system. Henry wanted to take the tour to face his fears. How are we at facing our fears? Any clown fears?
  • Nathan panics and spits. How would you do at the press conference Anne? He gets a grip and gets back to his snooty, smarter than you self.
  • My biggest laugh from Jaime: “Coach, we’re surrounded by poopy.”
  • A great bottle of wine doesn’t need to be an expensive bottle of wine.
  • Roy was told by the bus driver to ask the earth to help him carry some of his burden. What would that mean? What is Roy’s burden? Does he have a problem to work on? Who else? Jamie: “Lads, remember…it’s just poopy; let it flow.”
  • Rebecca is mad at Ted. Everyone is laughing at us Ted. Rupert is laughing at me, Ted. I am begging you, “fight back.” Emotionally moving.
  • The woman brings in a package for Nate. She says, “It’s a car.” It’s an Aston Martin. Looks like at least 300K.
  • Roy and Keeley are going to try and give Phoebe the talk. Oh, not the talk I expected. They tell her they broke up. She asks why they broke up. Roys says they are both busy. Phoebe says one of her core beliefs is nothing lasts forever.
  • In the car, Phoebe asks, “Are you sure you are doing the right thing?” She’s right? This is his call? She says, “I think you are being stupid.”
  • “Ring the Alarm” by Beyonce plays at the end. I didn’t know that one.

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast!