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In the spirit of making competitions out of just about everything, me and my friends invented something called Personal Tournaments, where you match up 8 interests/hobbies/things that define you, and see which one wins out. Here are the rules:

1. Don't include spending time with friends/family. We know they win out in most cases. If you pick spending time with friends, it has to be something specific, like "hanging out at the park throwing rocks at moving things." (Maybe not that specific, but you know what I mean.)

2. Try to be as specific as possible to make it even. If I picked "Sports" as a category, it would win in a walk. If you know one thing could easily dominate, break it up.

3. No ties. You have to pick one.

4. You can seed them if you want, I just picked them out of a hat.

Here's how mine played out:

Playing Basketball vs.
Video Games

If I was doing this ten years ago, video games would have had a decent shot. But I haven't been into them much lately. Basketball is definitely my main form of stress relief nowadays, to the point where the second I get home from work, I drop my bookbag and pick up my gym bag. If I go more than two days without playing ball I dream about it. Seriously, it's kind of a problem. Basketball wins easily.

Hip-Hop vs.
Chess

I had a great time coaching the chess team at the school I was student teaching at, and would love to keep it going wherever I wind up teaching next year. I've also been having a lot of fun playing at the tables by Lake Michigan when it's nice out. But, even with the state hip-hop is in right now, I can't imagine not listening to hip-hop. I have it on whenever I'm working, and sometimes playing chess is just an excuse to have hip-hop on in the background anyway.

Teaching vs.
Watching Sports

Ouch. How selfish do I want to be here? Teaching is a lot more satisfying, especially when you're a Chicago sports fan. But it's also a lot more work (just about anything would be.) I want to do the noble thing and pick teaching, but I'm way too sports obsessed to do that.

The Cubs vs.
Leading Trips

I've been really lucky to be able to be paid to go to amazing places over the summer. But the hardest part? Spending weeks at a time not being able to know how the Cubs are doing. This will be my last summer getting to do this, and I'll be a Cubs fan forever.

Basketball vs.
Hip-Hop

This was harder than I thought it would be. I thought basketball would win easily, but every time I think about not listening to hip-hop, it's a little sad. I think what would tip the scale in the other direction would be if I could scrape up enough money to buy some turntables and get into DJing more, but that's a little ways off.

Watching sports vs.
The Cubs

(For the sake of this argument, watching sports means everything other than the Cubs)
It's a little tempting to not have to worry about other sports, any just completely devote my sports interest to the Cubbies, like Jimmy Fallon's character in Fever Pitch with the Red Sox (I suppose that's not a good thing.) But I'm only thinking that way because it's early baseball season. I can't imagine not watching the Bears during football season, or any college basketball. It would hurt to not watch the Cubs, but I enjoy the variety of the sports world.

Playing Bball vs.
Watching Sports

As obsessed as I am with watching sports, it doesn't matter what game is on, if one of my buddies calls and says there's good comp at the gym, I leave immediately. Playing basketball is just too much fun for me. I would have to give up watching sports to play basketball all the time.

So that's mine. Go ahead and post your own. You might learn something about yourself.

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Hip-Hop QOTW:

"Yeah, where I'ma start it at, look I'ma part of that
Downtown Philly where it's realer than a heart attack
It wasn't really that ill until the start of crack
Now it's a body caught every night on the Almanac"

"Game Theory"
The Roots

Iiiiinteresting.

Think I'll give it the ole college try.

No seeding, I think I'll just wing it as it comes to mind.

The Prelims

Playing guitar v. CSI

I love me some CSI. In my opinion, it's the only worthwhile show in primetime anymore. But as much as I love that show, an hour of chugging away on my geet trumps a show about dead bodies any day.

Advantage: Playing guitar

The Yankees v. Gatorade

The preeminent team from the City that Never Sleeps or the Drink of Champions? How I enjoy both of thee. I'm addicted to both. But despite the fact that Gatorade is far more consistent in its goodness, and when the Yankees are low, it's pretty bad, when they're hot, it's better than any kind of good vibe I get from a sports drink.

Advantage: Yankees

Futurama v. Fantasy Sports

Both have their good points. Both have their not so good points. Futurama is a hilarious show that was cut down in it's prime, but still offered up 5 seasons of goodness. Fantasy sports puts a different kind of excitement into sports. Dare I say it makes it slightly more interesting? Its like a dream team so to speak. That said, while I love Fantasy Football season (especially with the CoNsters) I think my love of the scifi cartoon is slightly bigger.

Advantage: Futurama

Texas Hold Em with Tuity, Dan, and 'Fill v. Billiard tournaments in Ryan's garage

Oh, how much fun have I had wasting my life in Tuity's kitchen with a pair of cards in my hands or in Ryan's garage with a pool cue in my hands? A lot. But it was John Lennon who said "Time you enjoy wasting wasn't wasted"... or something like that. That having been said, I've won at pool more often than I won at poker, so I might give that the edge.

Advantage: Billiards at Ryan's

THE SEMIS:

Playing Guitar v. the New York Yankees

Now THIS is a grudge match. Toughtest possible denomination I could've ever constructed. I honestly don't know if I could decide. Are you sure I can't have a draw? Oh fine. The Yankees have given me times that I was just so happy to be alive. Seriously. That's sad to say that I've been given that feeling from a sports team, but it's true. 1996 World Series. 125 win season of 1998. The 2001 games at Yankee Stadium, beating up on BK Kim. Aaron bleeping Boone of 03. Jeter's flip play. Leyritz's crucial homerun in the ALDS against the Orioles. Jeffrey Meier. Jeter diving into the stands. Possibly the greatest game I've ever seen in that very same July 1st game against the Red Sox. Pedro vs. Zimmer. Pedro vs. the Rocket at Yankee Stadium. Tanyon the Gladiator. David Cone's perfect game. David Wells' perfect game. The Greatest Closer Ever. And someone's going to mention 2004. Yeah, they let me down there. But I don't dwell. Not when there are countless happy memories I've had of that team.
BUT
With all that said, there's just simply no nirvana that equates to the feeling I get griniding out a power riff. Not even a slew of Yankee moments.

Advantage: Guitar

Futurama v. Billiards in Ryan's garage

Time spent with friends, especially racking up the ceramics and knocking them around a felt table while some awesome music is playing, trumps any show, even if it is a show as excellent as Futurama.

Advantage: Billiards at Ryan's

FINALE:

Playing guitar v. Billiards in Ryan's garage

I love shooting a couple rounds in the garage. I love the comradery and the atmosphere presented whenever we played or who was there.
Still.
As I said, there's just no greater joy or inner sense of peace I feel more than when the six-string is in my hands.

Advantage: Guitar



Huh. Well that was entertaining.

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"When I turn the page
The corner bends into the perfect dog ear
As if the words knew I'd need them again
But at the time, I didn't see it."

~"This Ain't a Surfin' Movie" - Minus the Bear

well this is pretty interesting; here goes my tournament

Wrestling vs. Playing Football
Well I enjoy both sports greatly, and this is an actual real life dilemma i had, and it was very close. Wrestling is fun, flat out, and I mean real wrestling like college and high school, it is basically a fight, except you can't punch or straight on choke (similiar to brazilian jiujitsu, except they have the freedom to choke any way they want. The downside to wrestling is I had a bad knee injury, and because I go to a high-level wrestling school several guys passed me up while I was injured, so I don't know if I'll be able to crack the line-up. Now to football, all my relatives play football, and are or were the stars of their team. I excelled in football when I played, and my reason for not playing football in high school was that th wrestling team demanded year-round commitment, and my high school football team is terrible, but i love playing football. Well I have debated switching to football my senior year, and I decided to stick with wrestling; for now,. Because I've already donated three years of high school to it, and after high school if I get into college I'll try to walk on their football team, if I don't I'll be playing in community college. my senior year will be my last year of wrestling because I want to move on to another sport I love.

Advantage; Wrestling, for now

Golfing vs. Videogames

First off i enjoy playing video games, and I love golfing Video games only advatage is that they are fun. Golf I get to spend time with family, and relax in the nice fresh air. So the vixtor is golfing, because it is something I share with my family.

Advantage golfing

Family Guy vs. Desperate housewives

Both shows air new episodes on the same time. Desperate housewives is a great show, and it has Eva Longoria, but Family Guy is funnier than hell, and I don't have to wait till sunday to watch it.

Advantage; Family Guy

Beach volleyball vs. bowling

both are fun activities I like to do with friends. When I bowl I get the most strikes out of anybody (my average is 2 a game), but I can't pick up my spares, so sadly my score is often below 100 (usually 90something). Beach volley ball on the other hand, I have a very good serve, and set-up for a spike. So the team I am on usually wins. so based upon what I am more succseful at beach volleyball wins.

Advantage; Beach Volleyball

Wrestling vs. Golfing

I'll make this short, I plan to have one more year of wrestling, and to golf throughout the rest of my life. Golfing wins

Advantage; Golfing

Family Guy vs. Beach Volleyball

Faqmily guy is hialrious, and i can watch weekly. Beach volleyball I am out and about with friends getting some exercise and a tan, and Vitamin D prevents 98% of cancers(all but skin cancer).

Advantage; Beach volleyball

Beach Volleyball vs. Golfing

Basically hanging out with family vs. hanging out with friend, which nullifies eachother. Beach volleyball is more of an exercise than golfing so I'll play the health card again. Baech Volleyball wins

Champion; Baech Volleyball

Believe or not I didn't expect this until I actually compared these together.

This post has been edited by Cloud_Strife510 on 28th April 2006 04:48

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"Have you ever seen a baby do that before?"

Watching WWE wrestling vs. The Sopranos
Two things I do with my entire family. WWE has been a "tradition" of sorts with the family since the cradle, but the Sopranos has taken quite a keen interest with the family and something that we talk about with our family and friends, since most of mine don't watch wrestling. Because I almost worship it, WWE gets the victor.

WWE

Bowling vs. Video/PC games
Two activities that I really enjoy doing. If I had more of a social life, bowling would probably win like it would a few years ago hands down, but since I don't have much of a social life anymore now that I'm workin', goin' to school, and quite drinkin', I don't go out hardly at all, thus gaming is the winner here.

Video/PC games

Beavis & Butt-head vs. Star Trek
Two of my brother's and my favorite TV showsand movies growing up (as you could easily tell by now, I have no life) and these are two shows that we watched and talked about all the time. By Star Trek, I mean The Next Generation series as that was a big show we watched in our chidlhood. Due to my love of Mike Judge's comedic duo, Beavis & Butt-head kick Capt. Picard's & Comdr. Riker's asses.

Beavis & Butt-head

Playing keyboards/piano vs. wrestling
Two pipe dreams & career choices that I have no intention of fulfilling like I once had. I never learned to play keyboards/piano (I list them together because despite being completely different instruments, if you could play one, it's easy to play both) but hope to someday and I haven't had the opportunity nor the resources to go into high school sports. I was always bad in team sports and my high school never had a wrestling team, but if they had, I'd have joined and worked for a wrestling scholarship to professionally get into amateur, olympic-style wrestling to acheive my dream of being in the WWE 'cuz before you become a professional wrestler, you HAVE to know amatuer, college-style wrestling FIRST. It's no longer going to happen while I'm goin' ta' school for writing and weighing in at a small 137 lbs. ( I am a feather-weight male weight class) it's more than likely not going to happen. Between the two of them (which are VERY close pipe dreams) I'd choose my "first love".

Wrestling

Semi-Final round:

WWE vs. Video/PC (Final Fantasy) games
Ahh, thee two reasons why I have no life and waste the majority of it. It's a long, tough, and grueling battle that would end in a draw, then go into sudden death overtime. Both are exhausted and could give in at any time, that's when the true victor arises to take the win and enter the finals. Over-exaggerrated, I know.

Video/PC (Final Fantasy) games

Beavis & Butt-head vs. a wrestling (non-realistic) career
A tough call, no doubt, but Beavis & Butt-head put forth a valiant effort only to fall against a wrestling career.

Wrestling

Championship bout: Video games vs. wrestling
Now, don't confuse watching WWE with wrestling. I classify wrestling as a legit career choice in the amatuer college ranks. When it comes to my life, I can't help but love both of these things. I adore the time I waste playing PS2, FF, and the PC and dream about being a wrestler. Because I am actively pursuing a career in writing (which will NOT allow stupid games to get in the way) my hobby wins against my dream career, probably because it and my school work are number one.

Video/PC games

Had it ended with a real writing career rather than a dream wrestling career, a career in writing will come out on top, but I have had no other real career choice to consider, so I just chose out of two pipe dreams and my major hobby wins out. A very interesting topic.


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"Thought I was dead, eh? Not until I fulfill my dream!"
Seifer Almasy


"The most important part of the story is the ending."
Secret Window


"Peace is but a shadow of death."
Kuja

OPENING ROUNDS


DCW VS Programming
Alright, so DCW is the independent wrestling federation started by myself, my younger brother and our two best friends. We had our own ring and at one time our little "side" project actually had as many as 25 members to its name (we even had a meager crowd of 50 or so). However, it has always been my dream to be able to program my own video games.

Advantage: Programming

AD&D VS Anime
I've been playing Advanced Dungeons and Dragons for nigh on 13 years now, with the same three guys, and it's been great. So many epic stories, and sad, pathetic wtf?!! moments, both in game and out. Anime has only recently come into my life (~2 years maybe), but I've found some real enjoyment in many of them. Bebop, Kenshin, Trigun, and FMA are some notable examples. However, you can't replace The Knights of the Square Table.

Advantage: AD&D

Soccer/Futbol VS Final Fantasy Tactics
I played soccer for 11 glorious years, and while I was never the star Right Wing that I dreamed of being, I was an outstanding Left Defender. I would definitely go out and play if a bunch of friends wanted to throw a game together, but I probably won't initiate it. As for FFT, I've played over a thousand hours of it; maybe not quite as many as I've played soccer, but still a vast total. FFT has inspired me to learn some programming so that I may one day go and create my own game.

Advantage: Final Fantasy Tactics

Tae Kwon Do VS Grey's Anatomy
I started practicing Tae Kwon Do about 2 years ago and have met some really interesting people through it. Korean masters are all into golf....... I've visited a country other than the U.S. b/c of it (Korea is awesome!). I've been to tournaments as a competitor and judge. I even went so far as to begin a career running a studio. So, though I look forward to sitting down to a nice rousing hour of Grey's Anatomy each Sunday evening, I need always remember that I will never make a career out of being a doctor (no matter how hot the doctors I work with are) because I'd faint at the sight of blood.

Advantage: Tae Kwon Do


SEMI-FINAL ROUNDS


Programming VS AD&D
I have played less and less D&D these days, and spent more and more time messing around with little programs.....I'll take that as a sign I should go with Programming.

Advantage: Programming

Final Fantasy Tactics VS Tae Kwon Do
Ooh.....this is a tough one. My favorite video game, or my favorite sport........ I do love a nice challenge.......whether it be a video game or a 6'2" Purple Belt...... In the end, I think I'll have to give it to Tae Kwon Do. Nothing beats the feeling of going through Taeguk Oh Jang.

Advantage: Tae Kwon Do


FINAL ROUND


Tae Kwon Do VS Programming
My own video game is nice, but so is the feeling of creating my own form for my belt test. And, since at this point my programming capabilities allow me to create simple bank accounts, I say getting my Black Belt beats it out.

Advantage: Tae Kwon Do