wanderer

In this year’s golf US Open game in Torrey Pine course, San Diego, Tiger Woods the All Mighty made the improbable, or the very probable since it’s Tiger, birdie putt on 18th hole on the last day of the tournament, to force the next day playoff with the little known leader Rocco Mediate. Rocco, a 45-year-old man with three children, ranked 158th and needed a playoff a week ago to qualify the Open, almost became the oldest US Open winner should Tiger have missed the shot. Rocco’s everyday-man manner immediately helped him win the audience and supporters on and off the golf course, however, as an unknown player in the high profiled game, he was easily ignored and not surprisingly, treated insignificant. One NBC commentator ridiculed him like a guy who helps clean Tiger’s swimming pool and his name Rocco doesn’t look like being scripted on the trophy. I found a great sympathy in him and so rooted for him, my friend quipped me that I’ve had an ‘anti-wealth’ syndrome since I swung against Tiger. As predicted, Tiger used his experience and tenacity to pull out a close win the next day, he is the hero again to numerous Tiger fans around the globe.

My counter-trend preference didn’t succeed, but Rocco Mediate is almost an underdog hero in my opinion. In every aspect of the competition world, sport, business, academy, there are at least 10 times of slaughtered competitors behind a glam winner. Sounds brutal, but that’s the reality.  If I am neutral to two competitors, I would always root for the less favorable, because the win against the adverse condition is a more valuable accomplishment and deserves more credit. The dominate teams or players establish the order of the world, yet an underdog’s victory shatters that order and makes the game so much more fun, there is no reason not to root for them. And the empathy doesn’t stop in the sports arena. In every corner of life and society, it is more favorable to see multiple winners, not a polar powerhouse. That makes the whole system healthier to evolve, to say the least.  We can use different terminologies to discuss the similar issues in politics, in business operation, in academic management, etc. but the principle deep down the totally different fields shares the same spirit: give the underdogs a time to play.

Once again, let me connect together a seemingly irrelevant event (or a person, precisely) to Rocco Mediate. Tim Russert, the NBC Washington office chief and mediator of the show ‘Meet the Press’, died at work two weeks ago. The national media reported on his death for over a week. His sudden perish might add some news-making effect in the whole process, but Tim’s integrity, hard-working ethic and strong tie with his blue-collar root in Buffalo, NY, had him to receive the outpouring respect and condolence. In another word, Tim is an underdog hero in this hierarchy world, people taut him as a successful son from their own clan. Never had I seen a person from behind the news made such a sensation. Tim’s story, along with Rocco’s unlikely triumph, offers the inspirational boost to all the striving average Joe’s. As long as you work hard, grip tight the opportunity when it knocks the door, and not forget where you are from, you have a chance to success. Tim made it, Rocco was almost there, so could you.

   

Obama finally declared victory to the Democratic party nominee after the long battle with Hillary Clinton. It is an exhuasting campaign, filled with debates, word attack, fundraising and strategic tug of war, months of routine in travel, speeches, handshakes, smiles, fake smiles, interviews. How did he feel? Thankful, relieved, ecstatic? What was he thinking? 'Damn woman, you should've conceded earlier, you almost pull the Democratic party into a dire situation.' Or 'Phew, finally I made it, but have to do this shit all over again.' Or 'Hey, Hillary, I will consider the possibility that you being my running mate. We pull our resources together, we have a better chance to beat the Republican.' All in all, he had to address lots of issues in his celebration speech. I am wondering what he would say, in a sort of honest and earnest manner, apart from political cliche and decorating glossy slogans? On my way to work, the morning radio show mentioned what he said. In a super articulate way he sumed up his vitory, 'I am a better candidate because of my opponent.'

A couple with 3 kids are expecting again. Doctor said it's a twin. They were all too happy, planned ahead to find a best doctor and hospital for the birth and in the meantime,  avoid all the distraction from neigbors, colleagues and millions of people knowing 'em.  They searched the local and couldn't find a satisfying answer, but ended up landing hostpital in southern France. To make life easier, they went on buying a house there for the obseving period. Privacy is what they aspire, but gossip is not what they can control. the ongoing event is spreading half of France regarding their daily routine there. Because they are rich, the Chateau they bought was written in great detail on tabloid, 77million price tag, 3-mile drive way, lake, forest, blahblah; Because they are famous, all preparation steps, trivia or nontrivial, were digged out: 5 min helicopter ride to hospital, or plan B, 30 min limo drive; chef, nuitrtionist, nurse, bodyguard, publicist, nothing short of comtemporary king or queen. They are truly on top of the world, the world of glamour and vanity---Guess you've figrued out who they are already, yes, the notorious Brangelina.

Now here comes a re-run of an interview on CBS's 60 minutes.  A Silicon Valley VC tycoon faces the lady reporter's hardball questions on his yacht, the must-be the best, if not the longest one, in the world. Why such an expensive toy, why his collection of sports cars must be the best, again? Because he 'has an ego', 'a huge ego.'  there must be the best materialism to back up his swollen identity. This gentleman is Tom Perkins, I mentioned his foray on novel writing a few mounths ago. He is reasonable enough, talking about guilty of his ridiculously expensive toys. He's just a perfect role model for go-getters: tough childhood---born in Great Depression, talented and well-educated---MIT and Harvard trained, adventurous---numerous projects, 2 out of 10 success ratio, last but not the least, control freak and relentless---responsible for ousting 2 HP ex female CEOs---Carly Fiorina and Pat Dunn. Now being 76 years young, he's sitting the Oracle board and buying another ship to remodel it into a yacht. He's never stopping. This is a man living a high life. 

Then there was a 40 something bastard, who was doing photo-shoot for  a 14-year-old in his studio in L.A., with nobody else around. He gave her drugs and had sex with her until the girl's mother found out. He was arrested, the judge intended to impose him the harshest punishment, even some jury pointed out his traumatized mentality when his son and wife were murdered some 10 years ago. He fled the night before the trial, never came back to the US. He wandered in different countries and continued his directing career. In 2003, his movie, the Pianist, an epoc about Nazi Holocast surviors, won the best picture in Oscars, he couldn't receive his award, because he is a criminal here. He is Roman Polanski, a big name in motion pictures. A documentary film about his life is coming soon. Critics and general audience are looking forward to it. In a solo interview he gave to the director of the film, he confessed he loves young women. He is now 74, lives in Paris with wife and kids.

Anything graphic in movies or photos is no peer to anything you experienced in real life. Beichuan, a valley town of Sichuan Province in China, was in a tranquil wintery state when I visited there. The U-turn river separated a small island in between which was a public park. Two cable bridges connected both banks. And there were people walking down the street in Chinese Spring Festival season, innocent faces and hearty smiles. All of these otherwise happy existences were destroyed in seconds by earthquake months later. This is not in a movie, it was on breaking news photos, yet I saw more than photos were trying to cry to me. Millions of people are now living in tents and misery. Their lives are worlds away from the above figures. 

Being a spectator, I saw the astonishing disparity of the world.  Being a living human, I want to find the meaningness of life within my narrow layer of world. No sexy appeal, no romantic fantasy, Google's 'quote of the day' offers me a pragmatic solution, credit to Jane Austen, "A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of." With a fat income, you can buy a boat, live in a chateau, or you can build a school in a tranquil town. That, might be part of the meaningness of life.