Comments on: Sometimes You Just Need to Tip Your Cap http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/ The thoughts and experiences of Merrill Dubrow Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:03:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Bob Graham http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-115 Bob Graham Tue, 19 Sep 2006 15:40:23 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-115 Well, it's September 19 and the "never-say-die" Boston Red Sox valiantly took 3 out of 4 from the mighty Yankees last weekend, including sweeping a double-header on Sunday (in between games the Pats beat the Jets). Where are the tips of the cap now. Why are all the Yankee fans who chose to dump on Merrill when he was so gracious so silent? Are they too busy piling on that bandwagon (the one that broke down in 2004 after their team performed the biggest choke in the history of professional sports) to stop and give "the better team" that weekend their due? (God, I love this rivalry!) Well, it’s September 19 and the “never-say-die” Boston Red Sox valiantly took 3 out of 4 from the mighty Yankees last weekend, including sweeping a double-header on Sunday (in between games the Pats beat the Jets). Where are the tips of the cap now. Why are all the Yankee fans who chose to dump on Merrill when he was so gracious so silent? Are they too busy piling on that bandwagon (the one that broke down in 2004 after their team performed the biggest choke in the history of professional sports) to stop and give “the better team” that weekend their due?

(God, I love this rivalry!)

]]> By: Jennie Lovejoy http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-59 Jennie Lovejoy Tue, 29 Aug 2006 20:10:08 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-59 I almost posted a reply the very first day this blog was posted. There were no replies posted yet at that time. The fact that the man is my boss may be a small part of the reason why I waited until now. However, knowing what a great sport Merrill is, I doubt it. In any case, I was ecstatic by the sweep of the Bosox that this blog is all about! I just have to say that it made me smile all over again to learn that you have people all over the place that also remind you of how great my Yankees are! I agree that you need to get rid of that Cano ball! ...but, I think the faster, the better...and, I'm only 2 doors down! : ) I almost posted a reply the very first day this blog was posted. There were no replies posted yet at that time. The fact that the man is my boss may be a small part of the reason why I waited until now. However, knowing what a great sport Merrill is, I doubt it. In any case, I was ecstatic by the sweep of the Bosox that this blog is all about! I just have to say that it made me smile all over again to learn that you have people all over the place that also remind you of how great my Yankees are! I agree that you need to get rid of that Cano ball! …but, I think the faster, the better…and, I’m only 2 doors down! : )

]]> By: Merrill Shugoll http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-56 Merrill Shugoll Mon, 28 Aug 2006 20:17:32 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-56 What can I say that you would believe. That as a Yankee fan, I know how you feel - NOT! Or, cheer up, your day will come - it came and went - oops, how many years until the next time? I know - I'm being cruel. All kidding aside, I spent Friday night with your Boston Pops and Keith, their wonderful conductor. Now, there is a team worth rooting for. Switch to the Arts - believe me it's so much more uplifting! What can I say that you would believe. That as a Yankee fan, I know how you feel - NOT! Or, cheer up, your day will come - it came and went - oops, how many years until the next time? I know - I’m being cruel. All kidding aside, I spent Friday night with your Boston Pops and Keith, their wonderful conductor. Now, there is a team worth rooting for. Switch to the Arts - believe me it’s so much more uplifting!

]]> By: Bob Graham http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-43 Bob Graham Fri, 25 Aug 2006 13:48:27 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-43 As far as the business lessons of rooting for a great team, I think that my fellow UMASS Alum, the great Jack Welch put it best when he said: "When you love the Red Sox like I do, you learn how to lose and get up and fight another day." As far as the business lessons of rooting for a great team, I think that my fellow UMASS Alum, the great Jack Welch put it best when he said: “When you love the Red Sox like I do, you learn how to lose and get up and fight another day.”

]]> By: Chet Bertolli http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-42 Chet Bertolli Fri, 25 Aug 2006 13:48:07 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-42 I fully appreciate your frustration at the hands of the Yankees with your Red Sox. Being from Chicago and growing up on the southside my White Sox have also been smitten by the Yankees, especially in the 50's. But your comment about "tipping your cap" is well taken. Yankees deserved the series by the way they outplayed the Sox. Given the lack of Boston's veteran catcher to handle the pitching I was not surprised by the outcome. I can also relate to your anology with selling research (as you know) that the best approach is really relative to the buyer's disposition "in the moment". Just as Boston's collapse last week, it is only momentary and just remember that the Tigers, currently the best team in baseball, were 10.5 games ahead of my Sox and even after taking the first two games in Detroit, the White Sox came back to 5.5 games behind. Pitching will determine the eventual AL Champion. So, as in the research business, everything is based in the end on your "pitching" the right idea at the right time to get the win. Good Luck P.S. Any bets on who will be pitching in the World Series? I fully appreciate your frustration at the hands of the Yankees with your Red Sox. Being from Chicago and growing up on the southside my White Sox have also been smitten by the Yankees, especially in the 50’s. But your comment about “tipping your cap” is well taken. Yankees deserved the series by the way they outplayed the Sox. Given the lack of Boston’s veteran catcher to handle the pitching I was not surprised by the outcome.

I can also relate to your anology with selling research (as you know) that the best approach is really relative to the buyer’s disposition “in the moment”. Just as Boston’s collapse last week, it is only momentary and just remember that the Tigers, currently the best team in baseball, were 10.5 games ahead of my Sox and even after taking the first two games in Detroit, the White Sox came back to 5.5 games behind. Pitching will determine the eventual AL Champion.

So, as in the research business, everything is based in the end on your “pitching” the right idea at the right time to get the win.

Good Luck

P.S. Any bets on who will be pitching in the World Series?

]]> By: Will Morris http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-39 Will Morris Fri, 25 Aug 2006 13:01:38 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-39 Sport is not an overworn cliche' for the model of life. We are by nature competitive and losing is never comforting. I went to the University of Arkansas and grew up a Razorback fan. We had some classic games against the University of Texas in the old Southwest Conference, and played in one of the "games of the century" in 1969, with Richard Nixon and Billy Graham in attendance. However, we rarely beat the Longhorns and I recall walking out of a game in Austin, only to find my car painted orange. I hate orange, but in the quiet moments of the early morning, I must admit, that UT is an exceptional institution and often had that little extra confidence that the Hogs lacked. The same is true in business - often times the competitor is better, but we should never let a prospect get the feeling that we are playing not to lose. UT could tell when the Hogs were playing not to lose, and killed us. Merrill, except for that one magical season, the same thing happens to the Red Sox. Fortunately, your business success does not parrellel the history of our beloved Sox and Hogs. Sport is not an overworn cliche’ for the model of life. We are by nature competitive and losing is never comforting. I went to the University of Arkansas and grew up a Razorback fan. We had some classic games against the University of Texas in the old Southwest Conference, and played in one of the “games of the century” in 1969, with Richard Nixon and Billy Graham in attendance. However, we rarely beat the Longhorns and I recall walking out of a game in Austin, only to find my car painted orange. I hate orange, but in the quiet moments of the early morning, I must admit, that UT is an exceptional institution and often had that little extra confidence that the Hogs lacked.

The same is true in business - often times the competitor is better, but we should never let a prospect get the feeling that we are playing not to lose. UT could tell when the Hogs were playing not to lose, and killed us.

Merrill, except for that one magical season, the same thing happens to the Red Sox. Fortunately, your business success does not parrellel the history of our beloved Sox and Hogs.

]]> By: Ed Ledek http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-36 Ed Ledek Fri, 25 Aug 2006 00:31:10 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-36 What can I write? As a baseball fan I'm sad for the Sox. The series just clearly highlighted the two different directions that both teams are headed in...and it was not pretty! Wow...who would have ever predicted such a lopsided series? However, as a Yanks fan...I'm shocked, thrilled and I truly believe Boston may not even make it in as a wildcard team. I predicted before a pitch was thrown, that whichever team won this series would go on to win the division. Of course, I was hoping for 3-2 series edge type of thing. I believe Boston is an emotionally defeated team. I hear the fat lady warming up...this is not the miracle team of two years ago. You are a good sport. That Cano ball may be cursed...I like curses... What can I write? As a baseball fan I’m sad for the Sox. The series just clearly highlighted the two different directions that both teams are headed in…and it was not pretty! Wow…who would have ever predicted such a lopsided series?

However, as a Yanks fan…I’m shocked, thrilled and I truly believe Boston may not even make it in as a wildcard team. I predicted before a pitch was thrown, that whichever team won this series would go on to win the division. Of course, I was hoping for 3-2 series edge type of thing. I believe Boston is an emotionally defeated team. I hear the fat lady warming up…this is not the miracle team of two years ago.

You are a good sport. That Cano ball may be cursed…I like curses…

]]> By: Jeffrey Lorber http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-34 Jeffrey Lorber Wed, 23 Aug 2006 15:52:51 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-34 Send that Cano ball to Jeffrey Lorber right away or the Red Sox will never ever beat the Yankees again! Send that Cano ball to Jeffrey Lorber right away or the Red Sox will never ever beat the Yankees again!

]]> By: Steve Schlesinger http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-33 Steve Schlesinger Wed, 23 Aug 2006 09:35:11 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-33 It is tough enough to face defeat and even tougher to face a true massacre. Sitting at the beach yesterday, we were just talking about how many times the Bill Buckner blunder is replayed over and over again. Think how this guy feels - a very successful career defined by one human error in front of millions of people and played over for more to see. We don't spend enough time teaching our children how to face adversity in the many parts of life. We also spend a lot of time emphasing the importance of winning and less on the importance of playing - not always the best message. Afterall, if they see the embarassment of Bill Buckner over and over again, will they be willing to take the field. Humility is an important character trait and I am glad the transplanted Texan who hosts this blog has that as part of his fabric. Until next year for you Sox fans or should I say maybe next century - GO METS! It is tough enough to face defeat and even tougher to face a true massacre. Sitting at the beach yesterday, we were just talking about how many times the Bill Buckner blunder is replayed over and over again. Think how this guy feels - a very successful career defined by one human error in front of millions of people and played over for more to see. We don’t spend enough time teaching our children how to face adversity in the many parts of life. We also spend a lot of time emphasing the importance of winning and less on the importance of playing - not always the best message. Afterall, if they see the embarassment of Bill Buckner over and over again, will they be willing to take the field. Humility is an important character trait and I am glad the transplanted Texan who hosts this blog has that as part of his fabric.

Until next year for you Sox fans or should I say maybe next century - GO METS!

]]> By: Jon Last http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-32 Jon Last Wed, 23 Aug 2006 00:52:29 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/08/22/sometimes-you-just-need-to-tip-your-cap/#comment-32 Merrill: I've purposely let you cool down before addressing the series. I think you'll acknowledge that this Yankee fan is the last to gloat and the first to offer up congrats to you, when the RedSox get the Yankees number. So, hats off to what I know was a painful blog entry for you to write. The season is far from over. You proved that two years ago in the ALCS, and I learned it as a Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans fan on an excruciating New Years day wild card game at the hands of Frank Reich and the Buffalo Bills, some 15 years ago. But that said, I think that there may be a couple of other factors at work behind this past weekend's "Boston Massacre II". Firstly, the series was played opposite our annual baseball weekend IV, at which your attendance was greatly missed. No 105 degree wiffle ball games this year. However, I still think that the major reason why the Yankees took it to your Sox this weekend, is because you now possess a piece of the Yankees' season. You need to get rid of that ball that Cano threw you at the Stadium on Tuesday night. It's cursed! Merrill:

I’ve purposely let you cool down before addressing the series. I think you’ll acknowledge that this Yankee fan is the last to gloat and the first to offer up congrats to you, when the RedSox get the Yankees number. So, hats off to what I know was a painful blog entry for you to write. The season is far from over. You proved that two years ago in the ALCS, and I learned it as a Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans fan on an excruciating New Years day wild card game at the hands of Frank Reich and the Buffalo Bills, some 15 years ago.

But that said, I think that there may be a couple of other factors at work behind this past weekend’s “Boston Massacre II”. Firstly, the series was played opposite our annual baseball weekend IV, at which your attendance was greatly missed. No 105 degree wiffle ball games this year.
However, I still think that the major reason why the Yankees took it to your Sox this weekend, is because you now possess a piece of the Yankees’ season. You need to get rid of that ball that Cano threw you at the Stadium on Tuesday night. It’s cursed!

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