Mark Pioli 01/16/2004 11:50:23 AM Thursday January 15th the boys arrive a little early, trying to figure out how hard work and dedication equals no job. After the empty beer bottles spanned one section of window we realize it is 4:59 and we better make our way down to ice level. As Mike was carrying Garth's broom it reminded me of the famous quote in the Montreal Dressing Room "to you from failing hands we pass the torch be yours to hold it high" Well Garth, Mike held it high and the team came to play last night. Sheet 5 - (more on that later) ,we played a veteran team that was at the top of their game as well , they took 2 we took 1 they took next 3, back and forth, back and forth In a heated moment during a final shot by our skip, as Mike and I were feverishly sweeping, Bruce said Sweep Mark...Mike heartbroken that his sweeping had gone unnoticed I had to remind him that it is not how hard you are working it is perception that is important. Going into the last end we were up 1 point, doing my best Pete Rose impersonation, bet Mike that Mauro was going to blow it and we would lose by 1. Mauro prevailed and we won! Upstairs we realized that a win and sheet 5 equalled selling tickets, after a heated debate Mike and I decided to do the honors. The poor welland curling club didn't see it coming an Italian from Niagara Falls running the 50/50 draw, needless to say we won the $52. Garth it was a somber night, but the team was awesome.... Garth McQueen 01/16/2004 12:10 PM Well, first of all, a big congrats to Mike on his streak. And by the way the quote is ""to you from failing knees we pass the broom be yours to touch the ice" , unlike Swiffer boy. Oh yes, I see you played a Veteran team, which is highly respected as we all should, especially the War Vets and doubly so the World War One VETS. Must of cut the oxygen tubes..well done. Play them tough. The team though dealing with Troubling times, should be proud of playing through to victory for those whose who have been left behind. Honour those who have fallen and think not of those who are yet to go. I think this war twist is a pretty good one. Remember how Patton slapped the weak around, even if they were in the hospital. It is the tough who win. And a final acknowledgement on the teams 50/50 win of $52. I hope that was enough to purchase the necessary medicine to get you all through the sadness. Least I not forget, Mr. Mark "Pete Rose" Pioli, you have been doing that all year, and for the most part you have profitted, but like Pete Rose, you will NOW never make the Curling Hall of Fame. Shame Shame. You NEVER, NEVER, admit Guilt (or that you have been to the nuddy bar). That is the Niagara Way Bruce Clark 01/16/2004 12:32 PM Garth: Good news!Mark has discovered this new beer.Labatts Sterling.Low carbs and low cal.Goes well with his new year's diet. Mark figured that if he drank enough of them they would wash down the TON OF ONION RINGS he ate. It was nice to see the team pull through under trying circumstances. No one (mike )with a bad attitude got fired from the team. No one (mike) not trying hard enough got fired from the team. No one (mike,mark,bruce) who disagreed with management (read skip,mauro) got fired from the team. There is always next week. Garth McQueen 01/16/2004 12:50 PM Well written Bruce. It has made me reflect on some of my past readings. In my final moments here is HR LAND, I will pass this article for your consideration, for I think it does reflect what a real Leader is. Although you might reflect on this from a curling viewpoint, it may just cross over to the business world...give it some thought..... Qualities of Good Leader:   Ethics: Ethics is about more than knowing right from wrong; it’s about service to others. Naturally, you must determine your own ethics, but great leaders ground their ethics in treating people fairly, and in consistently sticking to their values regardless of the consequences. Martin Luther King Jr. provides perhaps the ultimate modern example. ·       Courage: Courage in leadership is often thought of as the willingness to take risks, but it goes much deeper than that; courage is personal. It is fundamentally about authenticity: Know yourself; understand and overcome your fears and anxieties; present only your true face to the world. It’s courage that contributes greatly to a leader’s ability to inspire. Think of Walter Reuther, Lee Iacocca, Rudy Giuliani, and of course Mauro Nuccitelli ·       Reality: Of course as a true leader you must have a firm and objective grip on reality -- primarily to learn from, adapt to, and serve the environment in which you do business. Effective management, communication, and people skills are sub-components of reality. Prominent examples include Sam Walton and Steve Jobs. ·       Vision: Vision is not about predicting the future, nor about dreaming impossible dreams. Rather, vision is a creative process, and therefore it is a much more difficult and complex concept to grasp -- and to apply. This is because successful visionary leaders have internalized wisdom about their environments and their capabilities, so that this wisdom becomes part of the creative process. As a great leader -- think of John F. Kennedy -- you set audacious goals to move your organization toward the envisioned future, and then lead it there, one goal at a time.