It’s spirit that matters, for flag, fans and glory

22 June 10 The Strait Times
by Rohit Brijnath

THE hottest team at the World Cup, if you factor in ranking and surprise, is also the coolest. New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen, when famously asked about the possibility of a traditional dance before play, replied: ‘Skinny white guys doing the haka! Very intimidating.’

But the skinny white guys are special: They have ensured that ‘Kiwi footballer’ is not quite an oxymoron. Their talent may not glitter, their technical skills may not gleam, still they have a shine to them. It is a spirit that can’t be measured, but a spirit that can be seen.

It is these skinny white guys who England and France, head down in penitence, should go and see. Guys, they should ask, we might have footballing history, we are burdened with louder expectations, but can you remind our teams, swollen with swagger, about football’s spirit. Because we seem to have lost it.

Spirit in sport is like some ancient tonic, it lifts the team and glues them together. It defies easy definition, but we can feel it in a team’s driven body language, in the strength of their runs in the 89th minute when muscles mutiny, in the way they slap a teammate’s buttock in support after an error, in the way, especially, that teams hold together even in distress.

It is the zest of men who put team above individual, a group of athletes who disavow pettiness and politics, who do not fall apart like cheap machinery at the first signs of stress. Spirit is not about winning, it is about the giving of the self to a cause.

Take an example from outside football, from Game 4 of basketball’s NBA finals. It is the fourth quarter, the Boston Celtic’s primary players are benched. They don’t complain. They applaud their replacements.

Later, their coach, Doc Rivers says: ‘They were fine. They were cheering... they were begging me to keep guys in. ‘Don’t take them out! Don’t take them out!’ It was great. That’s the loudest I’ve seen our bench, and it was the starters cheering from the bench.’

The Celtics won the game.

Spirit is Germany at the World Cup, it is 10 men playing as if they were 15. Spirit is the USA surging back from 0-2 down against Slovenia.

Spirit is Lionel Messi, one moment pirouetting in his rival’s box, next moment tackling in his own box. His inspiration can lift his team, but his perspiration binds them. To see the world’s finest player sweat is to embarrass any teammate into action.

Messi is our standard, he carries no offensive air, no stench of arrogance. He is genius worn lightly, he comes to play not to politic, his spirit is worn like a halo.

Alone he makes the French team look like spoilt, has-been heroes whose failure is everyone’s fault but theirs. It is football without dignity from the great nation of Platini and Fontaine.

Spirit is definitely not walking out of practice at a World Cup as France did. Spirit is not abusing your coach, however ineffective he may be. Spirit is swallowing complaint and playing furiously, playing for each other, for fans, for a flag, for pride.

Sulking is what 11-year-olds do when given detention in school. Not footballers living in luxurious accommodation. Want to protest? Wear a black armband, sign a petition, just get over it.

Spirit isn’t mutiny, it isn’t a rebellion as is rumoured John Terry was attempting. An England team stung by calamity was a perfect opportunity for Terry to advertise a united side, not suggest a fragmented one. Immediately, instead of answers to a team’s woes being found, distracting questions arose about a former captain’s motivations. A man of the hour he has been, but now he wasn’t.

Spirit is taking criticism in your stride as Wayne Rooney might want to remember, after castigating booing fans. Yes, spectators can be fickle, and stadiums unfriendly, but booing is also a fundamental sporting right. Not everything can be worship.

Fans, waiting for four years for a Cup, ordinary people dipping deep into their passion and their wallets to travel far, can shrug off losing. It is a lack of spirited effort that affronts them.

It doesn’t matter either if England coach Fabio Capello is wrong, if he should be playing Joe Cole, if his policy of telling players too late whether they are playing sucks. Fact is, even the wrong 11, when representing a nation, have to have the right attitude and play at a 100 per cent, at full, committed tilt.

Spirit is also the coach’s job. Sport is essentially a democratic activity, but coaches are like benevolent dictators. Like a conductor with his orchestra, the coach decides the footballing music his team will attempt, he selects his performers. But no fine music is found without spirit, without the conductor setting the mood for a collective tilt at greatness.

The coach must challenge temperamental heroes, stroke egos and bruise them. In India, a cricket coach once grabbed a player by the throat; John Wooden, the late basketball coach, rarely used an expression harsher than ‘goodness gracious’. It takes all methods to discover harmony.

It is a complicated dance where feet are constantly stepped on and Raymond Domenech, the French coach, has lousy footwork. Spirit he has failed to build, dissension he has let fester. He is not attuned to his men like the Lakers’ Phil Jackson often seems to be, he is not adroit in managing men without indulging them as Alex Ferguson appears.

Spirit is also Capello’s challenge as muttering in, and about, his team rises in volume. Certainly he must listen to Terry, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, for they wear the boots, their instincts speak to them. But listening does not mean appeasing, being flexible does not mean including a player to satisfy sullen stars.

Eventually, a fine balance must be found and wisdom discovered in the words of the American general, George S. Patton: ‘Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory.’

But eventually Capello does not play. His men play. Well-paid men. Revered men. Armani-clad men.

Spirit must come from them, they cannot look for blame, or find excuse, but search for a courage within. It is how heroes are forged. The bulldog spirit, they must know, is an English phrase. It is an old one. Now they have little time to prove it still lives.

Spirit is going down to train in the relentless rain, rowing your best in the 3rd set of fartlek, and shouting encouragement to team mates even though you can hardly breathe. Sunday Dragons, I am proud to row with you. -- FJ

Guess Who? VI

Hello folks! It has been quite some time since the last baby photo was uploaded...alright, here's another one....keep guessing!

Training - 3rd & 4th July 2010

Date: Saturday, 3 July 2010

Time: 3.45pm - 6.00pm

Venue: Bedok Reservoir

*Please meet at 3.45pm near the boat house for warm up.


Date: Sunday, 4 July 2010

Time: 7.45am - 11.00am

Venue: SDBA, Kallang

*Please meet at 7.45am for warm up. Land training after rowing.

Free Weights or Machines

Is There a Difference Between These Modalities of Lifting?

There is some question as to whether machines offer the same benefits as free weights when lifting. Some people believe there is no difference between the two while other believe strongly that there is indeed a difference. While both forms of lifting offer benefits, the discrepancy arises from a belief that machines don’t require the same amount of stabilization necessary when using free weights.

The stabilization argument is a valid argument and one of the major differences between the two forms of lifting. The ideas expressed here are not that one form of lifting is better than the other but rather that both have there place in the fitness arena. As an advocate for fitness any form of movement would be better than none at all. Since this discussion is however based on the comparison of the two forms and which one is better let’s take a closer look at each one.

Machines are easy to use, they do not require the same amount of stability free weights do. Machines generally require the user to select weight by inserting a pin in the appropriate resistance level of a weight stack and begin moving the weight along a predetermined path, based on the design of the particular machine. The predetermined path of movement doesn’t require much stabilization so you don’t work the same volume of muscle you would using free weights. This is conducive to a quicker workout since it doesn’t require the adding or removing of weight plates.

Free weights on the other hand take more time to work with because you have to load and unload the plates based on the desired resistance level. If you are lifting heavy you will need a spotter or spotting device to ensure proper technique and safety. When lifting free weights you recruit many more muscle (fibers) groups due to the simultaneous control and stabilization required. It is this stabilization (muscles recruited) aspect that makes free weights superior to machines. Bodybuilder utilize free weights for this very reason, but specialized machines are also used from time to time for change of pace and isolation work.

The bottom line is this: you can reap distinct benefits from each form of lifting. Free weights will build muscle faster and efficiently, but machines do offer fitness enhancements as well. Don’t give up on machines if your goal is to improve your fitness level, machines will allow you to achieve this.

By: Chris Christian
*Article from: http://fitness-trends.suite101.com/

10 Ways to Boost Immune Health

As we train hard for the race, it is also important that we keep our immune system strong and healthy. The last thing we want is to train so hard and then fall sick during the race weekend. These tips may be useful for us, keeping us fit and healthy for the race!

1. Drink your lemons. Lemon is the ideal food for restoring acid-alkali balance. Drinking freshly squeezed lemon juice in water, or adding it to tea, salad dressings (in place of vinegar), baking or cooking, helps maintain the body's internal "climate" at a pH which supports healthy bacteria instead of the viruses and harmful bacteria which thrive in more acidic environments. Apple cider vinegar is another great way to improve your body's alkalinity, but the taste of lemons is much more pleasant!

2. Give your body an herbal boost. Hundreds of herbal supplements and tinctures exist to give the immune system additional support. Essential oils are an excellent source of immune-stimulating compounds, and the rawest and most natural form of any medicinal plant, but there are other supplements which can be effective. Fresh herbs and whole food remedies are always preferable over packaged herbs or supplements, since they have a much higher potency and frequency and your body absorbs more of their value.

3. Get a full night's sleep. Everybody's different: your body may need anywhere from 6 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Whatever your personal sleep requirement is, get it! Sleep has been linked to balanced hormone levels (including human growth hormone and the stress hormone, cortisol), keeping weight down, clear thinking and reasoning, improved mood, and vibrant, healthy skin.

4. Eat plenty of protein. Protein is a building block for a healthy body, mind, and immune system. Diets low in protein tend to be high in carbs which convert readily to glucose, spiking blood sugar and stressing the pancreas and the immune system.

5. Drink plenty of water. This is almost, but not quite, a given; most headaches occur because despite the number of reminders, people still aren't getting enough water! Headaches and thirst are both signs of dehydration. You should be drinking, in daily ounces, half your body weight in pounds. (i.e. Body weight in pounds, divided by 2 = number of ounces of water per day.)

6. Stop drinking coffee. Contrary to recent marketing as a source of antioxidants, chocolate and coffee are two of the worst things you can do for your immune system and your health. Caffeine robs your body of minerals and vitamins, and it dehydrates you. If you drink coffee, make sure you add an additional two glasses to your water intake per cup of coffee. A mineral supplement helps to offset caffeine's damage, too.

7. Worse yet is the impact of refined white sugar. If you do only one thing to boost your immune system, eliminating sugar will do the trick. You will see noticeable results in your energy levels, weight distribution, immunity and your ability to think clearly when you break the cravings and stop eating refined sugar. Many holistic nutritionists consider sugar a drug for its impact on the human body; some practitioners are known to prioritize eliminating sugar from the diet over recommending that people quit smoking. Healthier sugars such as agave and stevia do exist, but avoid artificial sweeteners; they are even worse than cane sugar.

8. Stock up on raw fruits and vegetables for their antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fibre and enzymes. The nutritional content that you receive from raw fruits and veggies is unparalleled. Many vitamins, including C, are antioxidants and will protect cells - including those of your immune system - from damage by toxins in the environment. Dark-coloured produce (berries, kale, broccoli) tends to be higher in flavonoids, polyphenols and other antioxidants. The perfect source of minerals is seaweed, which is sold dried, but can often be found raw (dried at low temperatures to maintain most of the enzymes and nutrients) in health food stores.

9. Exercise can make a noticeable difference to your health and happiness by releasing endorphins. Most of us spend 90% of our lives indoors, inhaling dubiously filtered air and other people's germs, so take every opportunity to get outside. Time spent outdoors in the cold also stimulates the thyroid gland.

Finally...

10. Nurture yourself. Make sure you take time to yourself, spend some time with friends, and indulge yourself in a massage, a hot bath, or an energy work session when you want one. Our bodies respond to our emotions - if you're feeling harassed and anxious, it can manifest in a sore throat or a cold. Create a space within yourself and your living environment for harmony, self-love and joy. Pay attention to warning signs of sore throat or exhaustion so you can keep them from getting worse. Take a "mental health day" every few months to make sure your emotional needs are met. When you're happy, you're far less likely to get sick.

*Article from: http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com

Training - 26th & 27th June 2010

Date: Saturday, 26 June 2010

Time: 3.45pm - 6.00pm

Venue: Bedok Reservoir

*Please meet at 3.45pm near the boat house for warm up.


Date: Sunday, 27 June 2010

Time: 7.45am - 11.00am

Venue: Bedok Reservoir

*Please meet at 7.45am near the boat house for warm up. Land training after rowing.

Coffee Can Save Your Life

Coffee has been revving people up since the 15th century and with thousands of studies on caffeine, scientists have solved pretty much every mystery besides Neslo (Nescafe plus Milo). Add the cream of that scientific knowledge to your cup to maximise its benefits for…

YOUR HEALTH
The University of Scranton in the US found coffee to be a significant source of antioxidants, protecting against cancer and heart disease. Harvard researchers also found drinking more than four cups daily protects against gallstones and liver cirrhosis. This is thanks to its soluble fibre, which also explains your midmorning toilet visits.

BUT
“Coffee doesn’t provide the same variety of antioxidants that fruit and veggies do, and they’re harder to absorb,” says the Scranton study author, Professor Joe Vinson. And there’s a bitter taste in the post-dinner cup: Drunk within an hour of a meal, coffee reduces absorption of iron and immune-boosting zinc, the University of Lyon found.

YOUR HEART
Easing fears of heartbreaking news for heavy drinkers, Harvard researchers tracked 128,000 people for 20 years and found drinking more than six cups of coffee a day didn’t increase heart disease risk. Even better news: In 2007, US scientists at Brooklyn College found men who drank four cups of coffee a day had a 53 per cent lower risk of dying of heart disease than those who never took a sip.

BUT
Caffeine constricts your arteries, raising your blood pressure. “However, if you don’t have hypertension to begin with, the temporary blood pressure increase isn’t a problem,” says cardiologist Dr Matthew Sorrentino. “Plus, the impact on blood pressure tends to be significantly lower in regular caffeine drinkers because their bodies become tolerant to its effects.”

YOUR BRAIN POWER
Beyond merely preventing you from nodding off during that 9am meeting, one to two cups of coffee before tasks can increase your short-term recall and alertness, according to a University of Arizona study. “Caffeine also has a mild mood-elevating effect,” says Dr William Lovallo, professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at the University of Oklahoma. “That’s because it releases dopamine, which stimulates the area of your brain responsible for pleasure.”
In the longer term, caffeine has been found to slash your risk of developing Alzheimer’s by as much as 60 per cent and Harvard researchers have also found that drinking four cups a day can halve your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

BUT
Drink more than four cups per day and that caffeine hit merely relieves withdrawal symptoms rather than lifts your mental abilities above the caffeine-free competition, according to researchers at Bristol University. To ensure your java keeps you full of beans, limit yourself to just two cups a day and sink your mug 10 minutes before crunch time.

YOUR WAISTLINE
Caffeine’s an appetite suppressant, which also turns up the calorie-burning heat of your heart rate and metabolism. “Drinking six cups per day combined with exercise and a low-fat diet can boost fatburning by up to a fifth,” says Catherine Collins, chief dietitian at St George’s Hospital in the UK.

BUT
“Without diet and exercise changes, there’s currently no proof it has any significant effect on its own,” says Collins. That delicious Italian biscotti lurking on the saucer won’t help either.

YOUR MUSCLES
Caffeine pumps up your nervous system, increasing heart rate and breathing, which primes your body for peak performance. And it may also have a direct effect on your muscles. Experts reckon it triggers a release of extra calcium in your muscles, “and this means stronger muscle contractions,” says Dr Terry Graham, professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Guelph in Canada.

BUT
“Other chemical compounds in coffee appear to counter-act caffeine’s ability to impact your exercise session,” says Dr Graham. So to achieve these positive effects, you’re better off using caffeine pills or caffeinated energy drinks.

YOUR ACHING HEAD
Big night? Stick the kettle on. Caffeine increases production of stomach acid, helping your body absorb pain-relief drugs more quickly, according to research in the Archives of Neurology.

BUT
Go cold turkey and your grey matter won’t thank you. “Sudden caffeine withdrawal invariably causes headaches, so wean yourself off by cutting your intake by half every other day,” advises Dr Frankie Phillips of the British Dietetic Association. Or swap beans: Arabica beans have about 1 per cent caffeine, while Robusta pack double that. “Roasting reduces caffeine content, so a stronger taste can actually mean less caffeine,” according to the British Coffee Association’s Zoe Wheeldon.

YOUR SMILE
An espresso a day may keep the dentist away. The chemicals in coffee prevent tooth decay by stopping bacteria from attaching to your enamel, Milan University researchers found.

BUT
A scrape could still be needed. “It prevents bacteria from sticking to your enamel by sticking to the enamel itself, which can cause discolouring,” says Dr Amolak Singh of the General Dental Practitioners’ Association. Our tip: Brush with a toothpaste containing bicarbonate of soda to keep your whites pearly.

Article from: http://www.menshealth.com.sg

Training - 19 & 20 June

Date: Saturday, 19 June 2010

Time: 3.45pm - 6.00pm

Venue: Bedok Reservoir

*Please meet at 3.45pm near the boat house for warm up.


Date: Sunday, 20 June 2010

Time: 7.45am - 11.00am

Venue: Bedok Reservoir

*Please meet at 7.45am near the boat house for warm up. Land training after rowing.

Life is.....not so good

2007

2008

2009

2010

8 more trainings!

8 more trainings guys! Let's not forget our motivational quote:

"The will to win is the most over-estimated phenomenon in sport. It's not the will to win. Everyone wants to win. It's the will to prepare to win that makes winners."

Training - 12 & 13 June 2010

Date: Saturday, 12 June 2010

Time: 3.45pm - 6.00pm

Venue: Bedok Reservoir

*Please meet at 3.45pm near the boat house for warm up.


Date: Sunday, 13 June 2010

Time: 7.45am - 11.00am

Venue: Bedok Reservoir

*Please meet at 7.45am near the boat house for warm up. Land training after rowing.

Featured Rowers of the Month - The Nanas!

This month, we feature our most committed rowers: Robin and Cynthiaa! They are valuable assets to the team, bringing with them life experiences, sagely advice, timely encouragement, laughter, optimism and chilled 100+! Their day jobs are a façade. In reality, Cynthiaa documents Sunday Dragons life with her trusty camera while Robin comments on the local dragonboat scene.

How long have the both of you been on the team and what made you join us?
Robin: After I knew MADragons (MA stands for Mediacorp Team A- anyway we only had team A as there were always not enough rowers during the 3 years / I’m still very proud that I was the one who came up with the team name) was going defunct 2 years back, I wanted to join Seahawk as my friend Ah Hock is there and there are enough old seahum in the team so I could join them for veteran races when I reach 40. However I always wanted to be coached by Hak Loon (but not anymore when my name was called repeatedly by him like a recorder that won't stop in every training) and also I wanted to introduce Cynthiaa to db (cos she always complained I spent too much time on db) so I went around sourcing for a leisure team as her fitness wasn't there yet for db. Bingo when on a Sunday after my training I spotted Cindy going for training and Hak Loon was the coach! Much later after I joined the team for the 1st training did I realise that I was totally misled by Cindy!

Cynthiaa: Since 4 Jan 09 (18 months). Robin's passion for DB has definitely made an impact on me (even when he worked the night-shift in his previous job, he still went for training... and DB to him was more important than ermm, "ME"). Fact is I wanted to spend more time with my busy hubby & keep Fit.

(Yep, our most committed rowers were attracted by our fantastic coach. A loss for Seahawk and a coup for Sunday Dragons!)

Both of you have definitely made a huge and positive impact on the team. Especially for Cynthia, from the demure wife and newbie rower to the super fit 21km finisher and number one female warrior of Sunday Dragons! How did you do that?
Robin: The only 'impact' I made was sharing the welfare drinks with others but recently, only a few want to drink the ice-cold 100+ as they are scared of getting a scolding by Hak Loon.

Cynthiaa: I always remember how the team moltivated me (especially CK, Summer, Georgin, FJ, Kennix & Janus… Also Robin lah) and I didn't want to let them down. Also, after joining DB, I hardly visited the clinic (touchwood)… I didn't train specially for the 21km run but did manage to run home from office occasionally, which saved me time, $$… and I still intend to do that until I quit the job. Anyone can do 21km... You can walk and run... hahaha.

(If we did a poll, we’re sure the drinks will be voted the most popular welfare initiative. Maybe Hak Loon is the only one on the boat who has never taken a sip… Thanks for the impressive sales pitch for DB and keeping fit, Cynthiaa!)

How do the both of you maintain your motivation and passion for dragonboat?
Robin: We don't! We are constantly worried that our names will be called in the boat and that already enveloped us with fear to row better.

Cynthiaa: I believe both of us wanted to avoid our names being called during training :P, so we always exchange tips & look out for each others’ flaws during & after trainings… we love talking about DB stuff together...and have made many good DB friends along the way.

(Once again, we see the influence of our coach, haha! Seriously though, we see the pay-offs of your diligent attitude in your rowing!)

What are some changes you noticed in yourself and your other half since joining Sunday Dragons?
Robin: Cynthiaa had to buy new clothes since picking up DB but heng she didn’t ask me to pay. Since I joined SD, I became haolian as I realised many younger peers look older than me.

Cynthiaa: Nothing much ... only realised that Robin is more lame than I thought he was. At times, I really hope he hits the right note at the right time… (And he is harmless, really.)

(Yes, guys in the boat, Robin is referring to YOU. Cynthiaa, we know Robin is humless, since he joined SD and not Seahawk, where the seahums are.)

This question is for Robin: where do you get your brand of humour from?
Robin: It is inherent and can't be replicated. Requires an IQ level of 120 to constantly churn out thought-provoking and highly intelligent jokes. Ok lah, I admit that many a times my jokes were so lame that kids also won't laugh. The fact is, I joke according to the other party's level of understanding.

Cynthiaa: 吴宗宪 (who else?)

(!! You pitch your jokes according the other party’s level of understanding, and we get lame jokes…what are you trying to say about us?? Now that you’ve said it, Cynthiaa…)

And for Cynthiaa: how do you tolerate Robin's humour? How would you describe his sense of humour?
Robin: We brainstorm jokes for the following week at home.

Cynthiaa: I'm a good wife, I just laugh along (sometimes I do roll my eye balls). I've been hearing his jokes for the past 15 years... and surprisingly I still get tickled.

(And Robin tries to implicate, oops, credit, his wife. Cynthiaa stands by her man’s humour. Altogether now: AWWW…)

What does "nana" really mean and where is it from (like banana? or pineapple?)?
Robin: Nana is 7 in Japanese and knowledge in Sanskrit but these are not the answers. Nana is short for nenehpok!

Cynthiaa: Mmm... continue guessing lor..

(The truth is out!)

How much time does each of you really spend on Facebook each day?
Robin: I only spend 5 minutes each day and Cynthiaa is already complaining!

Cynthiaa: Every morning to check for messages and have a game of Bejewelled before I sleep if I’m not too tired… I can go without Facebook.

(Aye, we suppose this does not include times when you upload photos. And we’re sure labelling and commenting take more time!)

Is it really so fun to flirt with each other on Facebook when you are married to each other and live under the same roof?!
Robin: No we don't do that. The fact is Cynthiaa is always hogging our only laptop playing Bejewelled and I sometimes need to add comments to those pictures posted on Facebook to entertain others.

Cynthiaa: Did we??

(Perhaps flirting with their spouse comes so naturally that they do so unconsciously. Will other married team mates try it out and give us the verdict?)

How much do you love Sunday Dragons?
Robin: I was born on a Sunday 40 years ago in the year of the Dog. If Sunday Dragons were named Sunday Dogs, I would love the team even more!

Cynthiaa: As much as I love dragonboating!

(We know you love the team. *wink*)

Describe yourself in less than 10 words.
Robin: Providing entertainment, bridging people, self-critical, love a sport called Dragonboat! (Heng used hyphen, considered only 1 word!)

Cynthiaa: Contented, peace-loving, easy-going and loves Hokkien songs.