The Clearing Sight » Success Stories http://theclearingsight.com Expand Your Context - Improve Your Content! Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 TWO GAMES – Baseball & Financial Education http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/ http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:56:05 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=322 FIRST, BASEBALL

I am a baseball fan. Have been all my life. I used to watch the games with my Dad on a tiny RCA television way back in the day. That was the day when both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were both still located in New York!]]>

FIRST, BASEBALL

I am a baseball fan. Have been all my life. I used to watch the games with my Dad on a tiny RCA television way back in the day. That was the day when both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were both still located in New York! Both teams soon moved out West, as did our family. Pure coincidence, I assure you! In the summer of 1962 I had the fantastic opportunity to go to a baseball game with my friend Betty Jo. Her Dad drove us up to L.A., to Chavez Ravine, aka Dodger Stadium. We watched the Los Angeles Dodgers play the San Francisco Giants and what luck! Sandy Koufax, my hero, was pitching that day. The Dodgers won 11-2. How do I remember the score? Have no idea! All I can say is that it was an historic experience for me.

I loved the Dodgers and listened to the games on my little transistor radio every night. I was supposed to be sleeping... school the next day and all... but I listened to every game. I did that for 2 or 3 years, in the early sixties. I knew all the players' names and their jersey numbers. They were all my heroes but Sandy Koufax was my favorite. I loved Vin Scully too. He was the announcer for the Dodgers, and he was the best. He holds the record for the longest consecutive service of any current major league broadcaster for one team. Vin Scully is now 81 years old and still announcing for the Dodgers!

Fast forward to the late sixties and there I am watching a brand new Major League Baseball team, the San Diego Padres. It was May 1969, and I'll always remember it. It was my first date with Ted, a fellow baseball fan and oh, as it turned out, my soon-to-be husband! I was so happy to be able to share the joy of baseball with someone who loved it as much as I did. It was the first of many games we attended, and we had great seats too - right behind home plate. That's because Ted's Dad had season tickets, so you see, my “baseball family tree,” which includes both my kids too, is a pretty big tree. When I saw the movie “Bull Durham” (1988) with Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, I loved it. At the beginning of the movie when Susan's character Annie describes why she loves the game, I could relate.

A BASEBALL MOVIE ABOUT HARD FINANCIAL TIMES AND FORECLOSURE

Though “Bull Durham” was entertaining, Kevin Costner's next movie was right up my alley: “Field of Dreams” (1989), a movie that can legitimately be described as one of the most perfect combinations of spirituality and sports ever made. Ironically, it's also a movie about facing hard financial times and foreclosure! In this one video clip we have both sides of the story. Costner's character Ray is being told by his brother-in-law: “Ray, when the bank opens in the morning, they will foreclose. You're broke, Ray. You sell now or you lose everything.” In the same clip we have James Earl Jones' character's incredible oration on baseball and how following your dreams will lead to prosperity.

Fast forward again, this time to Fall 2001. Best-selling author Robert Kiyosaki had just finished presenting a 3-day seminar up at the Carefree Resort, just north of Phoenix, Arizona. A group of us, including Robert & his wife Kim, were celebrating at a Mexican Restaurant after the seminar. The TV was on and blasting full force. No one in the whole restaurant was eating. No one was doing anything except watching the most miraculous series of events unfold. The Arizona Diamondbacks were playing the New York Yankees, THE dynasty in Major League Baseball, in the seventh and final game of the World Series. The two teams were tied at 3 games each so whichever team won this game won the 2001 World Series. Amazing game, won in the 9th inning by the D'backs in spectacular fashion. Read about it. Well, that's the short version of the part of my life called baseball. If you asked me WHY I love it so much, I swear to you, I could not tell you. I don't know why. I just do.

SANDY KOUFAX AND OTHERS SWINDLED BY MADOFF

So all that said, it was sad to see the headline this morning on espn.com - an article about Sandy Koufax and other baseball folks being among those swindled by Bernard Madoff. The damage this man has done reaches far and wide. It's astounding. But this post is no comment on Sandy Koufax or anyone else. My compassion goes out to ALL who've lost their money. There are people who have lost their entire fortunes. They went from being wealthy to scrambling for a dime, some trying to get a job as a greeter at Wal•Mart. An enormous amount of trust was placed in this man Madoff, by a multitude of people, many of whom were business-savvy. Perhaps there's only so much you can do but I still feel that raising one's financial IQ is one of the best forms of insurance.

THE FINANCIAL EDUCATION GAME AND HOW TO WIN IT!

Coincidentally, the same morning I see the headline about Sandy Koufax, I received an email from the Rich Dad Company about Robert Kiyosaki's FREE online book, Conspiracy of the Rich - The 8 New Rules of Money. Read Chapter 1

I understand that there are no guarantees in this world. But the best insurance in the financial arena is financial education, in my opinion. Doesn't mean everything is going to be perfect all the time, but to put the odds squarely in your favor, financial education is the way to go. Check out Chapter 1 of Conspiracy of the Rich -The 8 New Rules of Money. Robert Kiyosaki is the best-selling author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, a book that has been on the NY Times Business Best Seller List for over 6 years. Robert has written many other books, all of which have valuable information to offer.

“THE NEW WEALTH IS KNOWLEDGE -- IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN KNOWLEDGE”

Two insightful quotes from Robert: • “Learning is actively seeking new information” • “The new wealth is knowledge -- it always has been knowledge.” Whether you study Robert Kiyosaki and Kim Kiyosaki, or Donald Trump, or Warren Buffet, someone else, or ALL of them, the point is, protect your family and your future by continuing to increase your financial education.

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]]> http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/feed/ 1 “The Masters of the Productive Out” – Rays beat Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:51:38 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=199 The World Series, Major League Baseball's own Octoberfest, started Wednesday, and the Cinderella Team, aka, the Tampa Bay Rays, lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies are a powerful team, loaded with talented athletes so it was no surprise. Just a little disappointing if you're a Fairy Tale-ending kinda person. Fortunately, any disappointment was short-lived, as Game 2 rolled around the very next evening, and the Rays beat the Phillies in stunning fashion - by making outs instead of by getting hits or hitting home runs. Completely unorthodox, and how refreshing is that?!

Rays Game 2

By the way, the manager of the Rays, 54-year old Joe Maddon, sports a mohawk under his baseball cap, my only point being that unorthodox tactics in playing the game itself would not be all that surprising. Are you with me? I never claimed to be an impartial sports reporter. I'm rooting for the Rays all the way. But I will say this. Growing up on the East Coast in the 1950's, I used to watch baseball games on TV with my Dad. His team was the New York Giants (moved to San Francisco in 1958), and the Giants were (and still are) in the National League. The Tampa Bay Rays are in the American League, clearly demonstrating that I'll root for the Cinderella Team all day long, no matter National or American League. This is a great story unfolding. Lots of fun - for all ages!

Picture 6

Read the whole story at espn.com - this is an excellent article for baseball fans and non-fans alike! How do you feel about a Cinderella Team? How do you feel about being unorthodox in your game play? Leave us a comment!

Technorati Tags: , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/feed/ 0 Cinderella Story Continues – Tampa Bay Rays Make it to World Series! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:41:08 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=193 The Cinderella Story continues! And you know, in this world, the way it's going at the moment, a good Cinderella Story is a welcome relief! This all started back in July when I realized the Major League Baseball Team, known as the “Tampa Bay Devil Rays” for its 10-year history, had decided to drop the word “devil” from the team name for its 11th season - 2008. See my July 6 post A rose by any other name? That was July and by October the Tampa Bay Rays were in the playoffs, which meant they had a chance to make it to the ultimate championship, the World Series! I had a great time following along, reporting to you the latest developments - see my posts: October 9 October 15 Well, these “Boys of Summer” have become affectionately known by now as simply The Rays - hmmm - Rays of Light instead of Devil Rays ?? Interesting transformation! So here's the latest, in case you haven't heard! Last night the Rays beat the Boston Red Sox and those Rays are going to the World Series! They made it. They did it! And I heard team member Carlos Pena say that the best part was that they could do it together because, he said clearly and emphatically, “We are family.” So the American League Champs, the Tampa Bay Rays, will be playing the National League Champs, the Philadelphia Phillies, in the World Series, starting Wednesday, October 22. Will prove to be a great series, I'm sure. Meanwhile, enjoy this photo - it speaks volumes

Congrats to a unified Team who wouldn't - and didn't - give up!

Picture 10-6

Short video of the celebration:

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]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/feed/ 0 Sting Rays – those “devil-less” boys are doing themselves proud! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:44:46 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=189 July 6 and October 9 Oh wow - those “devil-less” boys are doing themselves proud! Last night they beat the Boston Red Sox, aka 2007 World Series Champions, by a thrashing score of 13-4. The Rays are leading the playoff series 3-1. One more win and they're IN the 2008 World Series! See if you get a kick out of this article by ESPN writer Jerry Crasnick. I especially enjoyed this: “They've shown more energy, better pitching, more power and greater speed. And 70 percent of survey respondents believe they're better equipped to handle the economic crisis.” Here's part of the article by Jerry Crasnick: “BOSTON -- Everyone who watched the Tampa Bay Rays win 97 games this year knew they had a chance to beat Boston for the pennant. But never this convincingly. Four games in, the American League Championship Series is producing more shocking revelations than Marcia Brady's new autobiography. There's no need to consult a Quinnipiac poll to determine how the Rays are faring. They've outscored Boston 22-5 in the past two games to take a 3-1 series lead. They've shown more energy, better pitching, more power and greater speed. And 70 percent of survey respondents believe they're better equipped to handle the economic crisis. They're loose, they're young, they're athletic, they're hot and they're confident,'' said a scout at Fenway Park on Tuesday night. ”They've got it all right now.' Fresh off a 13-4 blowout win Tuesday, the Rays will spend an off day Wednesday sleeping late, ordering room service, enjoying quality time with their families, walking the Freedom Trail and tinkering with their fantasy league rosters. In the meantime, they can revel in the memory of the blessed silence they elicited with a dominant performance in Game 4.“ Read Full Story Here

Tampa Bay Rays Celebrate!

TB Rays

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]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/feed/ 0 Eliminate the word “DEVIL” and You’re a WINNER! http://theclearingsight.com Expand Your Context - Improve Your Content! Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 The Clearing Sight » Success Stories http://theclearingsight.com Expand Your Context - Improve Your Content! Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 TWO GAMES – Baseball & Financial Education http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/ http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:56:05 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=322 FIRST, BASEBALL

I am a baseball fan. Have been all my life. I used to watch the games with my Dad on a tiny RCA television way back in the day. That was the day when both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were both still located in New York!]]>

FIRST, BASEBALL

I am a baseball fan. Have been all my life. I used to watch the games with my Dad on a tiny RCA television way back in the day. That was the day when both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were both still located in New York! Both teams soon moved out West, as did our family. Pure coincidence, I assure you! In the summer of 1962 I had the fantastic opportunity to go to a baseball game with my friend Betty Jo. Her Dad drove us up to L.A., to Chavez Ravine, aka Dodger Stadium. We watched the Los Angeles Dodgers play the San Francisco Giants and what luck! Sandy Koufax, my hero, was pitching that day. The Dodgers won 11-2. How do I remember the score? Have no idea! All I can say is that it was an historic experience for me.

I loved the Dodgers and listened to the games on my little transistor radio every night. I was supposed to be sleeping... school the next day and all... but I listened to every game. I did that for 2 or 3 years, in the early sixties. I knew all the players' names and their jersey numbers. They were all my heroes but Sandy Koufax was my favorite. I loved Vin Scully too. He was the announcer for the Dodgers, and he was the best. He holds the record for the longest consecutive service of any current major league broadcaster for one team. Vin Scully is now 81 years old and still announcing for the Dodgers!

Fast forward to the late sixties and there I am watching a brand new Major League Baseball team, the San Diego Padres. It was May 1969, and I'll always remember it. It was my first date with Ted, a fellow baseball fan and oh, as it turned out, my soon-to-be husband! I was so happy to be able to share the joy of baseball with someone who loved it as much as I did. It was the first of many games we attended, and we had great seats too - right behind home plate. That's because Ted's Dad had season tickets, so you see, my “baseball family tree,” which includes both my kids too, is a pretty big tree. When I saw the movie “Bull Durham” (1988) with Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, I loved it. At the beginning of the movie when Susan's character Annie describes why she loves the game, I could relate.

A BASEBALL MOVIE ABOUT HARD FINANCIAL TIMES AND FORECLOSURE

Though “Bull Durham” was entertaining, Kevin Costner's next movie was right up my alley: “Field of Dreams” (1989), a movie that can legitimately be described as one of the most perfect combinations of spirituality and sports ever made. Ironically, it's also a movie about facing hard financial times and foreclosure! In this one video clip we have both sides of the story. Costner's character Ray is being told by his brother-in-law: “Ray, when the bank opens in the morning, they will foreclose. You're broke, Ray. You sell now or you lose everything.” In the same clip we have James Earl Jones' character's incredible oration on baseball and how following your dreams will lead to prosperity.

Fast forward again, this time to Fall 2001. Best-selling author Robert Kiyosaki had just finished presenting a 3-day seminar up at the Carefree Resort, just north of Phoenix, Arizona. A group of us, including Robert & his wife Kim, were celebrating at a Mexican Restaurant after the seminar. The TV was on and blasting full force. No one in the whole restaurant was eating. No one was doing anything except watching the most miraculous series of events unfold. The Arizona Diamondbacks were playing the New York Yankees, THE dynasty in Major League Baseball, in the seventh and final game of the World Series. The two teams were tied at 3 games each so whichever team won this game won the 2001 World Series. Amazing game, won in the 9th inning by the D'backs in spectacular fashion. Read about it. Well, that's the short version of the part of my life called baseball. If you asked me WHY I love it so much, I swear to you, I could not tell you. I don't know why. I just do.

SANDY KOUFAX AND OTHERS SWINDLED BY MADOFF

So all that said, it was sad to see the headline this morning on espn.com - an article about Sandy Koufax and other baseball folks being among those swindled by Bernard Madoff. The damage this man has done reaches far and wide. It's astounding. But this post is no comment on Sandy Koufax or anyone else. My compassion goes out to ALL who've lost their money. There are people who have lost their entire fortunes. They went from being wealthy to scrambling for a dime, some trying to get a job as a greeter at Wal•Mart. An enormous amount of trust was placed in this man Madoff, by a multitude of people, many of whom were business-savvy. Perhaps there's only so much you can do but I still feel that raising one's financial IQ is one of the best forms of insurance.

THE FINANCIAL EDUCATION GAME AND HOW TO WIN IT!

Coincidentally, the same morning I see the headline about Sandy Koufax, I received an email from the Rich Dad Company about Robert Kiyosaki's FREE online book, Conspiracy of the Rich - The 8 New Rules of Money. Read Chapter 1

I understand that there are no guarantees in this world. But the best insurance in the financial arena is financial education, in my opinion. Doesn't mean everything is going to be perfect all the time, but to put the odds squarely in your favor, financial education is the way to go. Check out Chapter 1 of Conspiracy of the Rich -The 8 New Rules of Money. Robert Kiyosaki is the best-selling author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, a book that has been on the NY Times Business Best Seller List for over 6 years. Robert has written many other books, all of which have valuable information to offer.

“THE NEW WEALTH IS KNOWLEDGE -- IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN KNOWLEDGE”

Two insightful quotes from Robert: • “Learning is actively seeking new information” • “The new wealth is knowledge -- it always has been knowledge.” Whether you study Robert Kiyosaki and Kim Kiyosaki, or Donald Trump, or Warren Buffet, someone else, or ALL of them, the point is, protect your family and your future by continuing to increase your financial education.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/feed/ 1 “The Masters of the Productive Out” – Rays beat Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:51:38 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=199 The World Series, Major League Baseball's own Octoberfest, started Wednesday, and the Cinderella Team, aka, the Tampa Bay Rays, lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies are a powerful team, loaded with talented athletes so it was no surprise. Just a little disappointing if you're a Fairy Tale-ending kinda person. Fortunately, any disappointment was short-lived, as Game 2 rolled around the very next evening, and the Rays beat the Phillies in stunning fashion - by making outs instead of by getting hits or hitting home runs. Completely unorthodox, and how refreshing is that?!

Rays Game 2

By the way, the manager of the Rays, 54-year old Joe Maddon, sports a mohawk under his baseball cap, my only point being that unorthodox tactics in playing the game itself would not be all that surprising. Are you with me? I never claimed to be an impartial sports reporter. I'm rooting for the Rays all the way. But I will say this. Growing up on the East Coast in the 1950's, I used to watch baseball games on TV with my Dad. His team was the New York Giants (moved to San Francisco in 1958), and the Giants were (and still are) in the National League. The Tampa Bay Rays are in the American League, clearly demonstrating that I'll root for the Cinderella Team all day long, no matter National or American League. This is a great story unfolding. Lots of fun - for all ages!

Picture 6

Read the whole story at espn.com - this is an excellent article for baseball fans and non-fans alike! How do you feel about a Cinderella Team? How do you feel about being unorthodox in your game play? Leave us a comment!

Technorati Tags: , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/feed/ 0 Cinderella Story Continues – Tampa Bay Rays Make it to World Series! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:41:08 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=193 The Cinderella Story continues! And you know, in this world, the way it's going at the moment, a good Cinderella Story is a welcome relief! This all started back in July when I realized the Major League Baseball Team, known as the “Tampa Bay Devil Rays” for its 10-year history, had decided to drop the word “devil” from the team name for its 11th season - 2008. See my July 6 post A rose by any other name? That was July and by October the Tampa Bay Rays were in the playoffs, which meant they had a chance to make it to the ultimate championship, the World Series! I had a great time following along, reporting to you the latest developments - see my posts: October 9 October 15 Well, these “Boys of Summer” have become affectionately known by now as simply The Rays - hmmm - Rays of Light instead of Devil Rays ?? Interesting transformation! So here's the latest, in case you haven't heard! Last night the Rays beat the Boston Red Sox and those Rays are going to the World Series! They made it. They did it! And I heard team member Carlos Pena say that the best part was that they could do it together because, he said clearly and emphatically, “We are family.” So the American League Champs, the Tampa Bay Rays, will be playing the National League Champs, the Philadelphia Phillies, in the World Series, starting Wednesday, October 22. Will prove to be a great series, I'm sure. Meanwhile, enjoy this photo - it speaks volumes

Congrats to a unified Team who wouldn't - and didn't - give up!

Picture 10-6

Short video of the celebration:

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/feed/ 0 Sting Rays – those “devil-less” boys are doing themselves proud! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:44:46 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=189 July 6 and October 9 Oh wow - those “devil-less” boys are doing themselves proud! Last night they beat the Boston Red Sox, aka 2007 World Series Champions, by a thrashing score of 13-4. The Rays are leading the playoff series 3-1. One more win and they're IN the 2008 World Series! See if you get a kick out of this article by ESPN writer Jerry Crasnick. I especially enjoyed this: “They've shown more energy, better pitching, more power and greater speed. And 70 percent of survey respondents believe they're better equipped to handle the economic crisis.” Here's part of the article by Jerry Crasnick: “BOSTON -- Everyone who watched the Tampa Bay Rays win 97 games this year knew they had a chance to beat Boston for the pennant. But never this convincingly. Four games in, the American League Championship Series is producing more shocking revelations than Marcia Brady's new autobiography. There's no need to consult a Quinnipiac poll to determine how the Rays are faring. They've outscored Boston 22-5 in the past two games to take a 3-1 series lead. They've shown more energy, better pitching, more power and greater speed. And 70 percent of survey respondents believe they're better equipped to handle the economic crisis. They're loose, they're young, they're athletic, they're hot and they're confident,'' said a scout at Fenway Park on Tuesday night. ”They've got it all right now.' Fresh off a 13-4 blowout win Tuesday, the Rays will spend an off day Wednesday sleeping late, ordering room service, enjoying quality time with their families, walking the Freedom Trail and tinkering with their fantasy league rosters. In the meantime, they can revel in the memory of the blessed silence they elicited with a dominant performance in Game 4.“ Read Full Story Here

Tampa Bay Rays Celebrate!

TB Rays

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/feed/ 0 Eliminate the word “DEVIL” and You’re a WINNER! http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/ http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:56:05 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=322 FIRST, BASEBALL

I am a baseball fan. Have been all my life. I used to watch the games with my Dad on a tiny RCA television way back in the day. That was the day when both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were both still located in New York!]]>

FIRST, BASEBALL

I am a baseball fan. Have been all my life. I used to watch the games with my Dad on a tiny RCA television way back in the day. That was the day when both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were both still located in New York! Both teams soon moved out West, as did our family. Pure coincidence, I assure you! In the summer of 1962 I had the fantastic opportunity to go to a baseball game with my friend Betty Jo. Her Dad drove us up to L.A., to Chavez Ravine, aka Dodger Stadium. We watched the Los Angeles Dodgers play the San Francisco Giants and what luck! Sandy Koufax, my hero, was pitching that day. The Dodgers won 11-2. How do I remember the score? Have no idea! All I can say is that it was an historic experience for me.

I loved the Dodgers and listened to the games on my little transistor radio every night. I was supposed to be sleeping... school the next day and all... but I listened to every game. I did that for 2 or 3 years, in the early sixties. I knew all the players' names and their jersey numbers. They were all my heroes but Sandy Koufax was my favorite. I loved Vin Scully too. He was the announcer for the Dodgers, and he was the best. He holds the record for the longest consecutive service of any current major league broadcaster for one team. Vin Scully is now 81 years old and still announcing for the Dodgers!

Fast forward to the late sixties and there I am watching a brand new Major League Baseball team, the San Diego Padres. It was May 1969, and I'll always remember it. It was my first date with Ted, a fellow baseball fan and oh, as it turned out, my soon-to-be husband! I was so happy to be able to share the joy of baseball with someone who loved it as much as I did. It was the first of many games we attended, and we had great seats too - right behind home plate. That's because Ted's Dad had season tickets, so you see, my “baseball family tree,” which includes both my kids too, is a pretty big tree. When I saw the movie “Bull Durham” (1988) with Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, I loved it. At the beginning of the movie when Susan's character Annie describes why she loves the game, I could relate.

A BASEBALL MOVIE ABOUT HARD FINANCIAL TIMES AND FORECLOSURE

Though “Bull Durham” was entertaining, Kevin Costner's next movie was right up my alley: “Field of Dreams” (1989), a movie that can legitimately be described as one of the most perfect combinations of spirituality and sports ever made. Ironically, it's also a movie about facing hard financial times and foreclosure! In this one video clip we have both sides of the story. Costner's character Ray is being told by his brother-in-law: “Ray, when the bank opens in the morning, they will foreclose. You're broke, Ray. You sell now or you lose everything.” In the same clip we have James Earl Jones' character's incredible oration on baseball and how following your dreams will lead to prosperity.

Fast forward again, this time to Fall 2001. Best-selling author Robert Kiyosaki had just finished presenting a 3-day seminar up at the Carefree Resort, just north of Phoenix, Arizona. A group of us, including Robert & his wife Kim, were celebrating at a Mexican Restaurant after the seminar. The TV was on and blasting full force. No one in the whole restaurant was eating. No one was doing anything except watching the most miraculous series of events unfold. The Arizona Diamondbacks were playing the New York Yankees, THE dynasty in Major League Baseball, in the seventh and final game of the World Series. The two teams were tied at 3 games each so whichever team won this game won the 2001 World Series. Amazing game, won in the 9th inning by the D'backs in spectacular fashion. Read about it. Well, that's the short version of the part of my life called baseball. If you asked me WHY I love it so much, I swear to you, I could not tell you. I don't know why. I just do.

SANDY KOUFAX AND OTHERS SWINDLED BY MADOFF

So all that said, it was sad to see the headline this morning on espn.com - an article about Sandy Koufax and other baseball folks being among those swindled by Bernard Madoff. The damage this man has done reaches far and wide. It's astounding. But this post is no comment on Sandy Koufax or anyone else. My compassion goes out to ALL who've lost their money. There are people who have lost their entire fortunes. They went from being wealthy to scrambling for a dime, some trying to get a job as a greeter at Wal•Mart. An enormous amount of trust was placed in this man Madoff, by a multitude of people, many of whom were business-savvy. Perhaps there's only so much you can do but I still feel that raising one's financial IQ is one of the best forms of insurance.

THE FINANCIAL EDUCATION GAME AND HOW TO WIN IT!

Coincidentally, the same morning I see the headline about Sandy Koufax, I received an email from the Rich Dad Company about Robert Kiyosaki's FREE online book, Conspiracy of the Rich - The 8 New Rules of Money. Read Chapter 1

I understand that there are no guarantees in this world. But the best insurance in the financial arena is financial education, in my opinion. Doesn't mean everything is going to be perfect all the time, but to put the odds squarely in your favor, financial education is the way to go. Check out Chapter 1 of Conspiracy of the Rich -The 8 New Rules of Money. Robert Kiyosaki is the best-selling author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, a book that has been on the NY Times Business Best Seller List for over 6 years. Robert has written many other books, all of which have valuable information to offer.

“THE NEW WEALTH IS KNOWLEDGE -- IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN KNOWLEDGE”

Two insightful quotes from Robert: • “Learning is actively seeking new information” • “The new wealth is knowledge -- it always has been knowledge.” Whether you study Robert Kiyosaki and Kim Kiyosaki, or Donald Trump, or Warren Buffet, someone else, or ALL of them, the point is, protect your family and your future by continuing to increase your financial education.

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]]> http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/feed/ 1 The Clearing Sight » Success Stories http://theclearingsight.com Expand Your Context - Improve Your Content! Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 TWO GAMES – Baseball & Financial Education http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/ http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:56:05 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=322 FIRST, BASEBALL

I am a baseball fan. Have been all my life. I used to watch the games with my Dad on a tiny RCA television way back in the day. That was the day when both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were both still located in New York!]]>

FIRST, BASEBALL

I am a baseball fan. Have been all my life. I used to watch the games with my Dad on a tiny RCA television way back in the day. That was the day when both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were both still located in New York! Both teams soon moved out West, as did our family. Pure coincidence, I assure you! In the summer of 1962 I had the fantastic opportunity to go to a baseball game with my friend Betty Jo. Her Dad drove us up to L.A., to Chavez Ravine, aka Dodger Stadium. We watched the Los Angeles Dodgers play the San Francisco Giants and what luck! Sandy Koufax, my hero, was pitching that day. The Dodgers won 11-2. How do I remember the score? Have no idea! All I can say is that it was an historic experience for me.

I loved the Dodgers and listened to the games on my little transistor radio every night. I was supposed to be sleeping... school the next day and all... but I listened to every game. I did that for 2 or 3 years, in the early sixties. I knew all the players' names and their jersey numbers. They were all my heroes but Sandy Koufax was my favorite. I loved Vin Scully too. He was the announcer for the Dodgers, and he was the best. He holds the record for the longest consecutive service of any current major league broadcaster for one team. Vin Scully is now 81 years old and still announcing for the Dodgers!

Fast forward to the late sixties and there I am watching a brand new Major League Baseball team, the San Diego Padres. It was May 1969, and I'll always remember it. It was my first date with Ted, a fellow baseball fan and oh, as it turned out, my soon-to-be husband! I was so happy to be able to share the joy of baseball with someone who loved it as much as I did. It was the first of many games we attended, and we had great seats too - right behind home plate. That's because Ted's Dad had season tickets, so you see, my “baseball family tree,” which includes both my kids too, is a pretty big tree. When I saw the movie “Bull Durham” (1988) with Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, I loved it. At the beginning of the movie when Susan's character Annie describes why she loves the game, I could relate.

A BASEBALL MOVIE ABOUT HARD FINANCIAL TIMES AND FORECLOSURE

Though “Bull Durham” was entertaining, Kevin Costner's next movie was right up my alley: “Field of Dreams” (1989), a movie that can legitimately be described as one of the most perfect combinations of spirituality and sports ever made. Ironically, it's also a movie about facing hard financial times and foreclosure! In this one video clip we have both sides of the story. Costner's character Ray is being told by his brother-in-law: “Ray, when the bank opens in the morning, they will foreclose. You're broke, Ray. You sell now or you lose everything.” In the same clip we have James Earl Jones' character's incredible oration on baseball and how following your dreams will lead to prosperity.

Fast forward again, this time to Fall 2001. Best-selling author Robert Kiyosaki had just finished presenting a 3-day seminar up at the Carefree Resort, just north of Phoenix, Arizona. A group of us, including Robert & his wife Kim, were celebrating at a Mexican Restaurant after the seminar. The TV was on and blasting full force. No one in the whole restaurant was eating. No one was doing anything except watching the most miraculous series of events unfold. The Arizona Diamondbacks were playing the New York Yankees, THE dynasty in Major League Baseball, in the seventh and final game of the World Series. The two teams were tied at 3 games each so whichever team won this game won the 2001 World Series. Amazing game, won in the 9th inning by the D'backs in spectacular fashion. Read about it. Well, that's the short version of the part of my life called baseball. If you asked me WHY I love it so much, I swear to you, I could not tell you. I don't know why. I just do.

SANDY KOUFAX AND OTHERS SWINDLED BY MADOFF

So all that said, it was sad to see the headline this morning on espn.com - an article about Sandy Koufax and other baseball folks being among those swindled by Bernard Madoff. The damage this man has done reaches far and wide. It's astounding. But this post is no comment on Sandy Koufax or anyone else. My compassion goes out to ALL who've lost their money. There are people who have lost their entire fortunes. They went from being wealthy to scrambling for a dime, some trying to get a job as a greeter at Wal•Mart. An enormous amount of trust was placed in this man Madoff, by a multitude of people, many of whom were business-savvy. Perhaps there's only so much you can do but I still feel that raising one's financial IQ is one of the best forms of insurance.

THE FINANCIAL EDUCATION GAME AND HOW TO WIN IT!

Coincidentally, the same morning I see the headline about Sandy Koufax, I received an email from the Rich Dad Company about Robert Kiyosaki's FREE online book, Conspiracy of the Rich - The 8 New Rules of Money. Read Chapter 1

I understand that there are no guarantees in this world. But the best insurance in the financial arena is financial education, in my opinion. Doesn't mean everything is going to be perfect all the time, but to put the odds squarely in your favor, financial education is the way to go. Check out Chapter 1 of Conspiracy of the Rich -The 8 New Rules of Money. Robert Kiyosaki is the best-selling author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, a book that has been on the NY Times Business Best Seller List for over 6 years. Robert has written many other books, all of which have valuable information to offer.

“THE NEW WEALTH IS KNOWLEDGE -- IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN KNOWLEDGE”

Two insightful quotes from Robert: • “Learning is actively seeking new information” • “The new wealth is knowledge -- it always has been knowledge.” Whether you study Robert Kiyosaki and Kim Kiyosaki, or Donald Trump, or Warren Buffet, someone else, or ALL of them, the point is, protect your family and your future by continuing to increase your financial education.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/feed/ 1 “The Masters of the Productive Out” – Rays beat Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:51:38 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=199 The World Series, Major League Baseball's own Octoberfest, started Wednesday, and the Cinderella Team, aka, the Tampa Bay Rays, lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies are a powerful team, loaded with talented athletes so it was no surprise. Just a little disappointing if you're a Fairy Tale-ending kinda person. Fortunately, any disappointment was short-lived, as Game 2 rolled around the very next evening, and the Rays beat the Phillies in stunning fashion - by making outs instead of by getting hits or hitting home runs. Completely unorthodox, and how refreshing is that?!

Rays Game 2

By the way, the manager of the Rays, 54-year old Joe Maddon, sports a mohawk under his baseball cap, my only point being that unorthodox tactics in playing the game itself would not be all that surprising. Are you with me? I never claimed to be an impartial sports reporter. I'm rooting for the Rays all the way. But I will say this. Growing up on the East Coast in the 1950's, I used to watch baseball games on TV with my Dad. His team was the New York Giants (moved to San Francisco in 1958), and the Giants were (and still are) in the National League. The Tampa Bay Rays are in the American League, clearly demonstrating that I'll root for the Cinderella Team all day long, no matter National or American League. This is a great story unfolding. Lots of fun - for all ages!

Picture 6

Read the whole story at espn.com - this is an excellent article for baseball fans and non-fans alike! How do you feel about a Cinderella Team? How do you feel about being unorthodox in your game play? Leave us a comment!

Technorati Tags: , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/feed/ 0 Cinderella Story Continues – Tampa Bay Rays Make it to World Series! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:41:08 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=193 The Cinderella Story continues! And you know, in this world, the way it's going at the moment, a good Cinderella Story is a welcome relief! This all started back in July when I realized the Major League Baseball Team, known as the “Tampa Bay Devil Rays” for its 10-year history, had decided to drop the word “devil” from the team name for its 11th season - 2008. See my July 6 post A rose by any other name? That was July and by October the Tampa Bay Rays were in the playoffs, which meant they had a chance to make it to the ultimate championship, the World Series! I had a great time following along, reporting to you the latest developments - see my posts: October 9 October 15 Well, these “Boys of Summer” have become affectionately known by now as simply The Rays - hmmm - Rays of Light instead of Devil Rays ?? Interesting transformation! So here's the latest, in case you haven't heard! Last night the Rays beat the Boston Red Sox and those Rays are going to the World Series! They made it. They did it! And I heard team member Carlos Pena say that the best part was that they could do it together because, he said clearly and emphatically, “We are family.” So the American League Champs, the Tampa Bay Rays, will be playing the National League Champs, the Philadelphia Phillies, in the World Series, starting Wednesday, October 22. Will prove to be a great series, I'm sure. Meanwhile, enjoy this photo - it speaks volumes

Congrats to a unified Team who wouldn't - and didn't - give up!

Picture 10-6

Short video of the celebration:

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]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/feed/ 0 Sting Rays – those “devil-less” boys are doing themselves proud! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:44:46 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=189 July 6 and October 9 Oh wow - those “devil-less” boys are doing themselves proud! Last night they beat the Boston Red Sox, aka 2007 World Series Champions, by a thrashing score of 13-4. The Rays are leading the playoff series 3-1. One more win and they're IN the 2008 World Series! See if you get a kick out of this article by ESPN writer Jerry Crasnick. I especially enjoyed this: “They've shown more energy, better pitching, more power and greater speed. And 70 percent of survey respondents believe they're better equipped to handle the economic crisis.” Here's part of the article by Jerry Crasnick: “BOSTON -- Everyone who watched the Tampa Bay Rays win 97 games this year knew they had a chance to beat Boston for the pennant. But never this convincingly. Four games in, the American League Championship Series is producing more shocking revelations than Marcia Brady's new autobiography. There's no need to consult a Quinnipiac poll to determine how the Rays are faring. They've outscored Boston 22-5 in the past two games to take a 3-1 series lead. They've shown more energy, better pitching, more power and greater speed. And 70 percent of survey respondents believe they're better equipped to handle the economic crisis. They're loose, they're young, they're athletic, they're hot and they're confident,'' said a scout at Fenway Park on Tuesday night. ”They've got it all right now.' Fresh off a 13-4 blowout win Tuesday, the Rays will spend an off day Wednesday sleeping late, ordering room service, enjoying quality time with their families, walking the Freedom Trail and tinkering with their fantasy league rosters. In the meantime, they can revel in the memory of the blessed silence they elicited with a dominant performance in Game 4.“ Read Full Story Here

Tampa Bay Rays Celebrate!

TB Rays

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]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/feed/ 0 Eliminate the word “DEVIL” and You’re a WINNER! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:51:38 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=199 The World Series, Major League Baseball's own Octoberfest, started Wednesday, and the Cinderella Team, aka, the Tampa Bay Rays, lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies are a powerful team, loaded with talented athletes so it was no surprise. Just a little disappointing if you're a Fairy Tale-ending kinda person. Fortunately, any disappointment was short-lived, as Game 2 rolled around the very next evening, and the Rays beat the Phillies in stunning fashion - by making outs instead of by getting hits or hitting home runs. Completely unorthodox, and how refreshing is that?!

Rays Game 2

By the way, the manager of the Rays, 54-year old Joe Maddon, sports a mohawk under his baseball cap, my only point being that unorthodox tactics in playing the game itself would not be all that surprising. Are you with me? I never claimed to be an impartial sports reporter. I'm rooting for the Rays all the way. But I will say this. Growing up on the East Coast in the 1950's, I used to watch baseball games on TV with my Dad. His team was the New York Giants (moved to San Francisco in 1958), and the Giants were (and still are) in the National League. The Tampa Bay Rays are in the American League, clearly demonstrating that I'll root for the Cinderella Team all day long, no matter National or American League. This is a great story unfolding. Lots of fun - for all ages!

Picture 6

Read the whole story at espn.com - this is an excellent article for baseball fans and non-fans alike! How do you feel about a Cinderella Team? How do you feel about being unorthodox in your game play? Leave us a comment!

Technorati Tags: , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/feed/ 0 The Clearing Sight » Success Stories http://theclearingsight.com Expand Your Context - Improve Your Content! Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 TWO GAMES – Baseball & Financial Education http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/ http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:56:05 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=322 FIRST, BASEBALL

I am a baseball fan. Have been all my life. I used to watch the games with my Dad on a tiny RCA television way back in the day. That was the day when both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were both still located in New York!]]>

FIRST, BASEBALL

I am a baseball fan. Have been all my life. I used to watch the games with my Dad on a tiny RCA television way back in the day. That was the day when both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were both still located in New York! Both teams soon moved out West, as did our family. Pure coincidence, I assure you! In the summer of 1962 I had the fantastic opportunity to go to a baseball game with my friend Betty Jo. Her Dad drove us up to L.A., to Chavez Ravine, aka Dodger Stadium. We watched the Los Angeles Dodgers play the San Francisco Giants and what luck! Sandy Koufax, my hero, was pitching that day. The Dodgers won 11-2. How do I remember the score? Have no idea! All I can say is that it was an historic experience for me.

I loved the Dodgers and listened to the games on my little transistor radio every night. I was supposed to be sleeping... school the next day and all... but I listened to every game. I did that for 2 or 3 years, in the early sixties. I knew all the players' names and their jersey numbers. They were all my heroes but Sandy Koufax was my favorite. I loved Vin Scully too. He was the announcer for the Dodgers, and he was the best. He holds the record for the longest consecutive service of any current major league broadcaster for one team. Vin Scully is now 81 years old and still announcing for the Dodgers!

Fast forward to the late sixties and there I am watching a brand new Major League Baseball team, the San Diego Padres. It was May 1969, and I'll always remember it. It was my first date with Ted, a fellow baseball fan and oh, as it turned out, my soon-to-be husband! I was so happy to be able to share the joy of baseball with someone who loved it as much as I did. It was the first of many games we attended, and we had great seats too - right behind home plate. That's because Ted's Dad had season tickets, so you see, my “baseball family tree,” which includes both my kids too, is a pretty big tree. When I saw the movie “Bull Durham” (1988) with Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, I loved it. At the beginning of the movie when Susan's character Annie describes why she loves the game, I could relate.

A BASEBALL MOVIE ABOUT HARD FINANCIAL TIMES AND FORECLOSURE

Though “Bull Durham” was entertaining, Kevin Costner's next movie was right up my alley: “Field of Dreams” (1989), a movie that can legitimately be described as one of the most perfect combinations of spirituality and sports ever made. Ironically, it's also a movie about facing hard financial times and foreclosure! In this one video clip we have both sides of the story. Costner's character Ray is being told by his brother-in-law: “Ray, when the bank opens in the morning, they will foreclose. You're broke, Ray. You sell now or you lose everything.” In the same clip we have James Earl Jones' character's incredible oration on baseball and how following your dreams will lead to prosperity.

Fast forward again, this time to Fall 2001. Best-selling author Robert Kiyosaki had just finished presenting a 3-day seminar up at the Carefree Resort, just north of Phoenix, Arizona. A group of us, including Robert & his wife Kim, were celebrating at a Mexican Restaurant after the seminar. The TV was on and blasting full force. No one in the whole restaurant was eating. No one was doing anything except watching the most miraculous series of events unfold. The Arizona Diamondbacks were playing the New York Yankees, THE dynasty in Major League Baseball, in the seventh and final game of the World Series. The two teams were tied at 3 games each so whichever team won this game won the 2001 World Series. Amazing game, won in the 9th inning by the D'backs in spectacular fashion. Read about it. Well, that's the short version of the part of my life called baseball. If you asked me WHY I love it so much, I swear to you, I could not tell you. I don't know why. I just do.

SANDY KOUFAX AND OTHERS SWINDLED BY MADOFF

So all that said, it was sad to see the headline this morning on espn.com - an article about Sandy Koufax and other baseball folks being among those swindled by Bernard Madoff. The damage this man has done reaches far and wide. It's astounding. But this post is no comment on Sandy Koufax or anyone else. My compassion goes out to ALL who've lost their money. There are people who have lost their entire fortunes. They went from being wealthy to scrambling for a dime, some trying to get a job as a greeter at Wal•Mart. An enormous amount of trust was placed in this man Madoff, by a multitude of people, many of whom were business-savvy. Perhaps there's only so much you can do but I still feel that raising one's financial IQ is one of the best forms of insurance.

THE FINANCIAL EDUCATION GAME AND HOW TO WIN IT!

Coincidentally, the same morning I see the headline about Sandy Koufax, I received an email from the Rich Dad Company about Robert Kiyosaki's FREE online book, Conspiracy of the Rich - The 8 New Rules of Money. Read Chapter 1

I understand that there are no guarantees in this world. But the best insurance in the financial arena is financial education, in my opinion. Doesn't mean everything is going to be perfect all the time, but to put the odds squarely in your favor, financial education is the way to go. Check out Chapter 1 of Conspiracy of the Rich -The 8 New Rules of Money. Robert Kiyosaki is the best-selling author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, a book that has been on the NY Times Business Best Seller List for over 6 years. Robert has written many other books, all of which have valuable information to offer.

“THE NEW WEALTH IS KNOWLEDGE -- IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN KNOWLEDGE”

Two insightful quotes from Robert: • “Learning is actively seeking new information” • “The new wealth is knowledge -- it always has been knowledge.” Whether you study Robert Kiyosaki and Kim Kiyosaki, or Donald Trump, or Warren Buffet, someone else, or ALL of them, the point is, protect your family and your future by continuing to increase your financial education.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/feed/ 1 “The Masters of the Productive Out” – Rays beat Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:51:38 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=199 The World Series, Major League Baseball's own Octoberfest, started Wednesday, and the Cinderella Team, aka, the Tampa Bay Rays, lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies are a powerful team, loaded with talented athletes so it was no surprise. Just a little disappointing if you're a Fairy Tale-ending kinda person. Fortunately, any disappointment was short-lived, as Game 2 rolled around the very next evening, and the Rays beat the Phillies in stunning fashion - by making outs instead of by getting hits or hitting home runs. Completely unorthodox, and how refreshing is that?!

Rays Game 2

By the way, the manager of the Rays, 54-year old Joe Maddon, sports a mohawk under his baseball cap, my only point being that unorthodox tactics in playing the game itself would not be all that surprising. Are you with me? I never claimed to be an impartial sports reporter. I'm rooting for the Rays all the way. But I will say this. Growing up on the East Coast in the 1950's, I used to watch baseball games on TV with my Dad. His team was the New York Giants (moved to San Francisco in 1958), and the Giants were (and still are) in the National League. The Tampa Bay Rays are in the American League, clearly demonstrating that I'll root for the Cinderella Team all day long, no matter National or American League. This is a great story unfolding. Lots of fun - for all ages!

Picture 6

Read the whole story at espn.com - this is an excellent article for baseball fans and non-fans alike! How do you feel about a Cinderella Team? How do you feel about being unorthodox in your game play? Leave us a comment!

Technorati Tags: , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/feed/ 0 Cinderella Story Continues – Tampa Bay Rays Make it to World Series! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:41:08 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=193 The Cinderella Story continues! And you know, in this world, the way it's going at the moment, a good Cinderella Story is a welcome relief! This all started back in July when I realized the Major League Baseball Team, known as the “Tampa Bay Devil Rays” for its 10-year history, had decided to drop the word “devil” from the team name for its 11th season - 2008. See my July 6 post A rose by any other name? That was July and by October the Tampa Bay Rays were in the playoffs, which meant they had a chance to make it to the ultimate championship, the World Series! I had a great time following along, reporting to you the latest developments - see my posts: October 9 October 15 Well, these “Boys of Summer” have become affectionately known by now as simply The Rays - hmmm - Rays of Light instead of Devil Rays ?? Interesting transformation! So here's the latest, in case you haven't heard! Last night the Rays beat the Boston Red Sox and those Rays are going to the World Series! They made it. They did it! And I heard team member Carlos Pena say that the best part was that they could do it together because, he said clearly and emphatically, “We are family.” So the American League Champs, the Tampa Bay Rays, will be playing the National League Champs, the Philadelphia Phillies, in the World Series, starting Wednesday, October 22. Will prove to be a great series, I'm sure. Meanwhile, enjoy this photo - it speaks volumes

Congrats to a unified Team who wouldn't - and didn't - give up!

Picture 10-6

Short video of the celebration:

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/feed/ 0 Sting Rays – those “devil-less” boys are doing themselves proud! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:44:46 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=189 July 6 and October 9 Oh wow - those “devil-less” boys are doing themselves proud! Last night they beat the Boston Red Sox, aka 2007 World Series Champions, by a thrashing score of 13-4. The Rays are leading the playoff series 3-1. One more win and they're IN the 2008 World Series! See if you get a kick out of this article by ESPN writer Jerry Crasnick. I especially enjoyed this: “They've shown more energy, better pitching, more power and greater speed. And 70 percent of survey respondents believe they're better equipped to handle the economic crisis.” Here's part of the article by Jerry Crasnick: “BOSTON -- Everyone who watched the Tampa Bay Rays win 97 games this year knew they had a chance to beat Boston for the pennant. But never this convincingly. Four games in, the American League Championship Series is producing more shocking revelations than Marcia Brady's new autobiography. There's no need to consult a Quinnipiac poll to determine how the Rays are faring. They've outscored Boston 22-5 in the past two games to take a 3-1 series lead. They've shown more energy, better pitching, more power and greater speed. And 70 percent of survey respondents believe they're better equipped to handle the economic crisis. They're loose, they're young, they're athletic, they're hot and they're confident,'' said a scout at Fenway Park on Tuesday night. ”They've got it all right now.' Fresh off a 13-4 blowout win Tuesday, the Rays will spend an off day Wednesday sleeping late, ordering room service, enjoying quality time with their families, walking the Freedom Trail and tinkering with their fantasy league rosters. In the meantime, they can revel in the memory of the blessed silence they elicited with a dominant performance in Game 4.“ Read Full Story Here

Tampa Bay Rays Celebrate!

TB Rays

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]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/feed/ 0 Eliminate the word “DEVIL” and You’re a WINNER! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:41:08 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=193 The Cinderella Story continues! And you know, in this world, the way it's going at the moment, a good Cinderella Story is a welcome relief! This all started back in July when I realized the Major League Baseball Team, known as the “Tampa Bay Devil Rays” for its 10-year history, had decided to drop the word “devil” from the team name for its 11th season - 2008. See my July 6 post A rose by any other name? That was July and by October the Tampa Bay Rays were in the playoffs, which meant they had a chance to make it to the ultimate championship, the World Series! I had a great time following along, reporting to you the latest developments - see my posts: October 9 October 15 Well, these “Boys of Summer” have become affectionately known by now as simply The Rays - hmmm - Rays of Light instead of Devil Rays ?? Interesting transformation! So here's the latest, in case you haven't heard! Last night the Rays beat the Boston Red Sox and those Rays are going to the World Series! They made it. They did it! And I heard team member Carlos Pena say that the best part was that they could do it together because, he said clearly and emphatically, “We are family.” So the American League Champs, the Tampa Bay Rays, will be playing the National League Champs, the Philadelphia Phillies, in the World Series, starting Wednesday, October 22. Will prove to be a great series, I'm sure. Meanwhile, enjoy this photo - it speaks volumes

Congrats to a unified Team who wouldn't - and didn't - give up!

Picture 10-6

Short video of the celebration:

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/feed/ 0 The Clearing Sight » Success Stories http://theclearingsight.com Expand Your Context - Improve Your Content! Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 TWO GAMES – Baseball & Financial Education http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/ http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:56:05 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=322 FIRST, BASEBALL

I am a baseball fan. Have been all my life. I used to watch the games with my Dad on a tiny RCA television way back in the day. That was the day when both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were both still located in New York!]]>

FIRST, BASEBALL

I am a baseball fan. Have been all my life. I used to watch the games with my Dad on a tiny RCA television way back in the day. That was the day when both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were both still located in New York! Both teams soon moved out West, as did our family. Pure coincidence, I assure you! In the summer of 1962 I had the fantastic opportunity to go to a baseball game with my friend Betty Jo. Her Dad drove us up to L.A., to Chavez Ravine, aka Dodger Stadium. We watched the Los Angeles Dodgers play the San Francisco Giants and what luck! Sandy Koufax, my hero, was pitching that day. The Dodgers won 11-2. How do I remember the score? Have no idea! All I can say is that it was an historic experience for me.

I loved the Dodgers and listened to the games on my little transistor radio every night. I was supposed to be sleeping... school the next day and all... but I listened to every game. I did that for 2 or 3 years, in the early sixties. I knew all the players' names and their jersey numbers. They were all my heroes but Sandy Koufax was my favorite. I loved Vin Scully too. He was the announcer for the Dodgers, and he was the best. He holds the record for the longest consecutive service of any current major league broadcaster for one team. Vin Scully is now 81 years old and still announcing for the Dodgers!

Fast forward to the late sixties and there I am watching a brand new Major League Baseball team, the San Diego Padres. It was May 1969, and I'll always remember it. It was my first date with Ted, a fellow baseball fan and oh, as it turned out, my soon-to-be husband! I was so happy to be able to share the joy of baseball with someone who loved it as much as I did. It was the first of many games we attended, and we had great seats too - right behind home plate. That's because Ted's Dad had season tickets, so you see, my “baseball family tree,” which includes both my kids too, is a pretty big tree. When I saw the movie “Bull Durham” (1988) with Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, I loved it. At the beginning of the movie when Susan's character Annie describes why she loves the game, I could relate.

A BASEBALL MOVIE ABOUT HARD FINANCIAL TIMES AND FORECLOSURE

Though “Bull Durham” was entertaining, Kevin Costner's next movie was right up my alley: “Field of Dreams” (1989), a movie that can legitimately be described as one of the most perfect combinations of spirituality and sports ever made. Ironically, it's also a movie about facing hard financial times and foreclosure! In this one video clip we have both sides of the story. Costner's character Ray is being told by his brother-in-law: “Ray, when the bank opens in the morning, they will foreclose. You're broke, Ray. You sell now or you lose everything.” In the same clip we have James Earl Jones' character's incredible oration on baseball and how following your dreams will lead to prosperity.

Fast forward again, this time to Fall 2001. Best-selling author Robert Kiyosaki had just finished presenting a 3-day seminar up at the Carefree Resort, just north of Phoenix, Arizona. A group of us, including Robert & his wife Kim, were celebrating at a Mexican Restaurant after the seminar. The TV was on and blasting full force. No one in the whole restaurant was eating. No one was doing anything except watching the most miraculous series of events unfold. The Arizona Diamondbacks were playing the New York Yankees, THE dynasty in Major League Baseball, in the seventh and final game of the World Series. The two teams were tied at 3 games each so whichever team won this game won the 2001 World Series. Amazing game, won in the 9th inning by the D'backs in spectacular fashion. Read about it. Well, that's the short version of the part of my life called baseball. If you asked me WHY I love it so much, I swear to you, I could not tell you. I don't know why. I just do.

SANDY KOUFAX AND OTHERS SWINDLED BY MADOFF

So all that said, it was sad to see the headline this morning on espn.com - an article about Sandy Koufax and other baseball folks being among those swindled by Bernard Madoff. The damage this man has done reaches far and wide. It's astounding. But this post is no comment on Sandy Koufax or anyone else. My compassion goes out to ALL who've lost their money. There are people who have lost their entire fortunes. They went from being wealthy to scrambling for a dime, some trying to get a job as a greeter at Wal•Mart. An enormous amount of trust was placed in this man Madoff, by a multitude of people, many of whom were business-savvy. Perhaps there's only so much you can do but I still feel that raising one's financial IQ is one of the best forms of insurance.

THE FINANCIAL EDUCATION GAME AND HOW TO WIN IT!

Coincidentally, the same morning I see the headline about Sandy Koufax, I received an email from the Rich Dad Company about Robert Kiyosaki's FREE online book, Conspiracy of the Rich - The 8 New Rules of Money. Read Chapter 1

I understand that there are no guarantees in this world. But the best insurance in the financial arena is financial education, in my opinion. Doesn't mean everything is going to be perfect all the time, but to put the odds squarely in your favor, financial education is the way to go. Check out Chapter 1 of Conspiracy of the Rich -The 8 New Rules of Money. Robert Kiyosaki is the best-selling author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, a book that has been on the NY Times Business Best Seller List for over 6 years. Robert has written many other books, all of which have valuable information to offer.

“THE NEW WEALTH IS KNOWLEDGE -- IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN KNOWLEDGE”

Two insightful quotes from Robert: • “Learning is actively seeking new information” • “The new wealth is knowledge -- it always has been knowledge.” Whether you study Robert Kiyosaki and Kim Kiyosaki, or Donald Trump, or Warren Buffet, someone else, or ALL of them, the point is, protect your family and your future by continuing to increase your financial education.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/feed/ 1 “The Masters of the Productive Out” – Rays beat Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:51:38 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=199 The World Series, Major League Baseball's own Octoberfest, started Wednesday, and the Cinderella Team, aka, the Tampa Bay Rays, lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies are a powerful team, loaded with talented athletes so it was no surprise. Just a little disappointing if you're a Fairy Tale-ending kinda person. Fortunately, any disappointment was short-lived, as Game 2 rolled around the very next evening, and the Rays beat the Phillies in stunning fashion - by making outs instead of by getting hits or hitting home runs. Completely unorthodox, and how refreshing is that?!

Rays Game 2

By the way, the manager of the Rays, 54-year old Joe Maddon, sports a mohawk under his baseball cap, my only point being that unorthodox tactics in playing the game itself would not be all that surprising. Are you with me? I never claimed to be an impartial sports reporter. I'm rooting for the Rays all the way. But I will say this. Growing up on the East Coast in the 1950's, I used to watch baseball games on TV with my Dad. His team was the New York Giants (moved to San Francisco in 1958), and the Giants were (and still are) in the National League. The Tampa Bay Rays are in the American League, clearly demonstrating that I'll root for the Cinderella Team all day long, no matter National or American League. This is a great story unfolding. Lots of fun - for all ages!

Picture 6

Read the whole story at espn.com - this is an excellent article for baseball fans and non-fans alike! How do you feel about a Cinderella Team? How do you feel about being unorthodox in your game play? Leave us a comment!

Technorati Tags: , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/feed/ 0 Cinderella Story Continues – Tampa Bay Rays Make it to World Series! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:41:08 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=193 The Cinderella Story continues! And you know, in this world, the way it's going at the moment, a good Cinderella Story is a welcome relief! This all started back in July when I realized the Major League Baseball Team, known as the “Tampa Bay Devil Rays” for its 10-year history, had decided to drop the word “devil” from the team name for its 11th season - 2008. See my July 6 post A rose by any other name? That was July and by October the Tampa Bay Rays were in the playoffs, which meant they had a chance to make it to the ultimate championship, the World Series! I had a great time following along, reporting to you the latest developments - see my posts: October 9 October 15 Well, these “Boys of Summer” have become affectionately known by now as simply The Rays - hmmm - Rays of Light instead of Devil Rays ?? Interesting transformation! So here's the latest, in case you haven't heard! Last night the Rays beat the Boston Red Sox and those Rays are going to the World Series! They made it. They did it! And I heard team member Carlos Pena say that the best part was that they could do it together because, he said clearly and emphatically, “We are family.” So the American League Champs, the Tampa Bay Rays, will be playing the National League Champs, the Philadelphia Phillies, in the World Series, starting Wednesday, October 22. Will prove to be a great series, I'm sure. Meanwhile, enjoy this photo - it speaks volumes

Congrats to a unified Team who wouldn't - and didn't - give up!

Picture 10-6

Short video of the celebration:

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/feed/ 0 Sting Rays – those “devil-less” boys are doing themselves proud! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:44:46 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=189 July 6 and October 9 Oh wow - those “devil-less” boys are doing themselves proud! Last night they beat the Boston Red Sox, aka 2007 World Series Champions, by a thrashing score of 13-4. The Rays are leading the playoff series 3-1. One more win and they're IN the 2008 World Series! See if you get a kick out of this article by ESPN writer Jerry Crasnick. I especially enjoyed this: “They've shown more energy, better pitching, more power and greater speed. And 70 percent of survey respondents believe they're better equipped to handle the economic crisis.” Here's part of the article by Jerry Crasnick: “BOSTON -- Everyone who watched the Tampa Bay Rays win 97 games this year knew they had a chance to beat Boston for the pennant. But never this convincingly. Four games in, the American League Championship Series is producing more shocking revelations than Marcia Brady's new autobiography. There's no need to consult a Quinnipiac poll to determine how the Rays are faring. They've outscored Boston 22-5 in the past two games to take a 3-1 series lead. They've shown more energy, better pitching, more power and greater speed. And 70 percent of survey respondents believe they're better equipped to handle the economic crisis. They're loose, they're young, they're athletic, they're hot and they're confident,'' said a scout at Fenway Park on Tuesday night. ”They've got it all right now.' Fresh off a 13-4 blowout win Tuesday, the Rays will spend an off day Wednesday sleeping late, ordering room service, enjoying quality time with their families, walking the Freedom Trail and tinkering with their fantasy league rosters. In the meantime, they can revel in the memory of the blessed silence they elicited with a dominant performance in Game 4.“ Read Full Story Here

Tampa Bay Rays Celebrate!

TB Rays

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/feed/ 0 Eliminate the word “DEVIL” and You’re a WINNER! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:44:46 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=189 July 6 and October 9 Oh wow - those “devil-less” boys are doing themselves proud! Last night they beat the Boston Red Sox, aka 2007 World Series Champions, by a thrashing score of 13-4. The Rays are leading the playoff series 3-1. One more win and they're IN the 2008 World Series! See if you get a kick out of this article by ESPN writer Jerry Crasnick. I especially enjoyed this: “They've shown more energy, better pitching, more power and greater speed. And 70 percent of survey respondents believe they're better equipped to handle the economic crisis.” Here's part of the article by Jerry Crasnick: “BOSTON -- Everyone who watched the Tampa Bay Rays win 97 games this year knew they had a chance to beat Boston for the pennant. But never this convincingly. Four games in, the American League Championship Series is producing more shocking revelations than Marcia Brady's new autobiography. There's no need to consult a Quinnipiac poll to determine how the Rays are faring. They've outscored Boston 22-5 in the past two games to take a 3-1 series lead. They've shown more energy, better pitching, more power and greater speed. And 70 percent of survey respondents believe they're better equipped to handle the economic crisis. They're loose, they're young, they're athletic, they're hot and they're confident,'' said a scout at Fenway Park on Tuesday night. ”They've got it all right now.' Fresh off a 13-4 blowout win Tuesday, the Rays will spend an off day Wednesday sleeping late, ordering room service, enjoying quality time with their families, walking the Freedom Trail and tinkering with their fantasy league rosters. In the meantime, they can revel in the memory of the blessed silence they elicited with a dominant performance in Game 4.“ Read Full Story Here

Tampa Bay Rays Celebrate!

TB Rays

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/feed/ 0 The Clearing Sight » Success Stories http://theclearingsight.com Expand Your Context - Improve Your Content! Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 TWO GAMES – Baseball & Financial Education http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/ http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:56:05 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=322 FIRST, BASEBALL

I am a baseball fan. Have been all my life. I used to watch the games with my Dad on a tiny RCA television way back in the day. That was the day when both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were both still located in New York!]]>

FIRST, BASEBALL

I am a baseball fan. Have been all my life. I used to watch the games with my Dad on a tiny RCA television way back in the day. That was the day when both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were both still located in New York! Both teams soon moved out West, as did our family. Pure coincidence, I assure you! In the summer of 1962 I had the fantastic opportunity to go to a baseball game with my friend Betty Jo. Her Dad drove us up to L.A., to Chavez Ravine, aka Dodger Stadium. We watched the Los Angeles Dodgers play the San Francisco Giants and what luck! Sandy Koufax, my hero, was pitching that day. The Dodgers won 11-2. How do I remember the score? Have no idea! All I can say is that it was an historic experience for me.

I loved the Dodgers and listened to the games on my little transistor radio every night. I was supposed to be sleeping... school the next day and all... but I listened to every game. I did that for 2 or 3 years, in the early sixties. I knew all the players' names and their jersey numbers. They were all my heroes but Sandy Koufax was my favorite. I loved Vin Scully too. He was the announcer for the Dodgers, and he was the best. He holds the record for the longest consecutive service of any current major league broadcaster for one team. Vin Scully is now 81 years old and still announcing for the Dodgers!

Fast forward to the late sixties and there I am watching a brand new Major League Baseball team, the San Diego Padres. It was May 1969, and I'll always remember it. It was my first date with Ted, a fellow baseball fan and oh, as it turned out, my soon-to-be husband! I was so happy to be able to share the joy of baseball with someone who loved it as much as I did. It was the first of many games we attended, and we had great seats too - right behind home plate. That's because Ted's Dad had season tickets, so you see, my “baseball family tree,” which includes both my kids too, is a pretty big tree. When I saw the movie “Bull Durham” (1988) with Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, I loved it. At the beginning of the movie when Susan's character Annie describes why she loves the game, I could relate.

A BASEBALL MOVIE ABOUT HARD FINANCIAL TIMES AND FORECLOSURE

Though “Bull Durham” was entertaining, Kevin Costner's next movie was right up my alley: “Field of Dreams” (1989), a movie that can legitimately be described as one of the most perfect combinations of spirituality and sports ever made. Ironically, it's also a movie about facing hard financial times and foreclosure! In this one video clip we have both sides of the story. Costner's character Ray is being told by his brother-in-law: “Ray, when the bank opens in the morning, they will foreclose. You're broke, Ray. You sell now or you lose everything.” In the same clip we have James Earl Jones' character's incredible oration on baseball and how following your dreams will lead to prosperity.

Fast forward again, this time to Fall 2001. Best-selling author Robert Kiyosaki had just finished presenting a 3-day seminar up at the Carefree Resort, just north of Phoenix, Arizona. A group of us, including Robert & his wife Kim, were celebrating at a Mexican Restaurant after the seminar. The TV was on and blasting full force. No one in the whole restaurant was eating. No one was doing anything except watching the most miraculous series of events unfold. The Arizona Diamondbacks were playing the New York Yankees, THE dynasty in Major League Baseball, in the seventh and final game of the World Series. The two teams were tied at 3 games each so whichever team won this game won the 2001 World Series. Amazing game, won in the 9th inning by the D'backs in spectacular fashion. Read about it. Well, that's the short version of the part of my life called baseball. If you asked me WHY I love it so much, I swear to you, I could not tell you. I don't know why. I just do.

SANDY KOUFAX AND OTHERS SWINDLED BY MADOFF

So all that said, it was sad to see the headline this morning on espn.com - an article about Sandy Koufax and other baseball folks being among those swindled by Bernard Madoff. The damage this man has done reaches far and wide. It's astounding. But this post is no comment on Sandy Koufax or anyone else. My compassion goes out to ALL who've lost their money. There are people who have lost their entire fortunes. They went from being wealthy to scrambling for a dime, some trying to get a job as a greeter at Wal•Mart. An enormous amount of trust was placed in this man Madoff, by a multitude of people, many of whom were business-savvy. Perhaps there's only so much you can do but I still feel that raising one's financial IQ is one of the best forms of insurance.

THE FINANCIAL EDUCATION GAME AND HOW TO WIN IT!

Coincidentally, the same morning I see the headline about Sandy Koufax, I received an email from the Rich Dad Company about Robert Kiyosaki's FREE online book, Conspiracy of the Rich - The 8 New Rules of Money. Read Chapter 1

I understand that there are no guarantees in this world. But the best insurance in the financial arena is financial education, in my opinion. Doesn't mean everything is going to be perfect all the time, but to put the odds squarely in your favor, financial education is the way to go. Check out Chapter 1 of Conspiracy of the Rich -The 8 New Rules of Money. Robert Kiyosaki is the best-selling author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, a book that has been on the NY Times Business Best Seller List for over 6 years. Robert has written many other books, all of which have valuable information to offer.

“THE NEW WEALTH IS KNOWLEDGE -- IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN KNOWLEDGE”

Two insightful quotes from Robert: • “Learning is actively seeking new information” • “The new wealth is knowledge -- it always has been knowledge.” Whether you study Robert Kiyosaki and Kim Kiyosaki, or Donald Trump, or Warren Buffet, someone else, or ALL of them, the point is, protect your family and your future by continuing to increase your financial education.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

]]> http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/two-games-baseball-financial-education/feed/ 1 “The Masters of the Productive Out” – Rays beat Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:51:38 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=199 The World Series, Major League Baseball's own Octoberfest, started Wednesday, and the Cinderella Team, aka, the Tampa Bay Rays, lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies are a powerful team, loaded with talented athletes so it was no surprise. Just a little disappointing if you're a Fairy Tale-ending kinda person. Fortunately, any disappointment was short-lived, as Game 2 rolled around the very next evening, and the Rays beat the Phillies in stunning fashion - by making outs instead of by getting hits or hitting home runs. Completely unorthodox, and how refreshing is that?!

Rays Game 2

By the way, the manager of the Rays, 54-year old Joe Maddon, sports a mohawk under his baseball cap, my only point being that unorthodox tactics in playing the game itself would not be all that surprising. Are you with me? I never claimed to be an impartial sports reporter. I'm rooting for the Rays all the way. But I will say this. Growing up on the East Coast in the 1950's, I used to watch baseball games on TV with my Dad. His team was the New York Giants (moved to San Francisco in 1958), and the Giants were (and still are) in the National League. The Tampa Bay Rays are in the American League, clearly demonstrating that I'll root for the Cinderella Team all day long, no matter National or American League. This is a great story unfolding. Lots of fun - for all ages!

Picture 6

Read the whole story at espn.com - this is an excellent article for baseball fans and non-fans alike! How do you feel about a Cinderella Team? How do you feel about being unorthodox in your game play? Leave us a comment!

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]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/%e2%80%9cthe-masters-of-the-productive-out%e2%80%9d-rays-beat-phillies-in-game-2-of-the-world-series/feed/ 0 Cinderella Story Continues – Tampa Bay Rays Make it to World Series! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:41:08 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=193 The Cinderella Story continues! And you know, in this world, the way it's going at the moment, a good Cinderella Story is a welcome relief! This all started back in July when I realized the Major League Baseball Team, known as the “Tampa Bay Devil Rays” for its 10-year history, had decided to drop the word “devil” from the team name for its 11th season - 2008. See my July 6 post A rose by any other name? That was July and by October the Tampa Bay Rays were in the playoffs, which meant they had a chance to make it to the ultimate championship, the World Series! I had a great time following along, reporting to you the latest developments - see my posts: October 9 October 15 Well, these “Boys of Summer” have become affectionately known by now as simply The Rays - hmmm - Rays of Light instead of Devil Rays ?? Interesting transformation! So here's the latest, in case you haven't heard! Last night the Rays beat the Boston Red Sox and those Rays are going to the World Series! They made it. They did it! And I heard team member Carlos Pena say that the best part was that they could do it together because, he said clearly and emphatically, “We are family.” So the American League Champs, the Tampa Bay Rays, will be playing the National League Champs, the Philadelphia Phillies, in the World Series, starting Wednesday, October 22. Will prove to be a great series, I'm sure. Meanwhile, enjoy this photo - it speaks volumes

Congrats to a unified Team who wouldn't - and didn't - give up!

Picture 10-6

Short video of the celebration:

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]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/cinderella-story-continues-tampa-bay-rays-make-it-to-world-series/feed/ 0 Sting Rays – those “devil-less” boys are doing themselves proud! http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/ http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:44:46 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=189 July 6 and October 9 Oh wow - those “devil-less” boys are doing themselves proud! Last night they beat the Boston Red Sox, aka 2007 World Series Champions, by a thrashing score of 13-4. The Rays are leading the playoff series 3-1. One more win and they're IN the 2008 World Series! See if you get a kick out of this article by ESPN writer Jerry Crasnick. I especially enjoyed this: “They've shown more energy, better pitching, more power and greater speed. And 70 percent of survey respondents believe they're better equipped to handle the economic crisis.” Here's part of the article by Jerry Crasnick: “BOSTON -- Everyone who watched the Tampa Bay Rays win 97 games this year knew they had a chance to beat Boston for the pennant. But never this convincingly. Four games in, the American League Championship Series is producing more shocking revelations than Marcia Brady's new autobiography. There's no need to consult a Quinnipiac poll to determine how the Rays are faring. They've outscored Boston 22-5 in the past two games to take a 3-1 series lead. They've shown more energy, better pitching, more power and greater speed. And 70 percent of survey respondents believe they're better equipped to handle the economic crisis. They're loose, they're young, they're athletic, they're hot and they're confident,'' said a scout at Fenway Park on Tuesday night. ”They've got it all right now.' Fresh off a 13-4 blowout win Tuesday, the Rays will spend an off day Wednesday sleeping late, ordering room service, enjoying quality time with their families, walking the Freedom Trail and tinkering with their fantasy league rosters. In the meantime, they can revel in the memory of the blessed silence they elicited with a dominant performance in Game 4.“ Read Full Story Here

Tampa Bay Rays Celebrate!

TB Rays

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]]> http://theclearingsight.com/success-stories/sting-rays-those-%e2%80%9cdevil-less%e2%80%9d-boys-are-doing-themselves-proud-2/feed/ 0 Eliminate the word “DEVIL” and You’re a WINNER! http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/eliminate-the-word-%e2%80%9cdevil%e2%80%9d-and-youre-a-winner/ http://theclearingsight.com/news-highlights/eliminate-the-word-%e2%80%9cdevil%e2%80%9d-and-youre-a-winner/#comments Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:47:31 +0000 Jayne Johnson http://theclearingsight.com/blog/?p=161 For the 2008 baseball season, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball team changed the team name to TAMPA BAY RAYS - see my July 6 blog post GONE for good was the word DEVIL! The big news today is that this team has found their way into the MLB American League Series Championship Series. The winner goes to the World Series. In Major League Baseball, you can't get any higher achievement or honor than that!

Kazmir-Tampa Bay Rays

FYI: Tampa Bay is a city on the western coast of the U.S. state of Florida, and the Devil Ray is a type of ray. Before continuing, I'd ask those of you who live in another country and/or you are not a baseball fan to please bear with me. The content here is baseball, but the CONTEXT is about our word choice -- the words that we speak and write are vitally important. The words we use can improve or ruin our lives -- my article “Awareness and Communication” elaborates on this principle, which some consider one of the Laws of the Universe. OK, so let's look at the history, the statistics, of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays: * 10 losing seasons; * 9 last-place finishes in their division; * never finished closer than 18 games out of first in their division; * lost 96 games last year, worst in the MLB..... ....a year later they dropped the word Devil and now they're playing for a chance to go to the World Series. Even if they don't make it, what they've already attained is clearly remarkable! The Devil's Advocates - pun intended - will surely say the Rays could have accomplished all this anyway, with or without the name change. I would not argue with that. Of course that is possible. All I am saying is that the TAMPA BAY RAYS have an excellent chance to get into the World Series this year, and at the very least, it's an INTERESTING COINCIDENCE! Read More about the TB Rays

Tampa Bay Rays

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