Denver - Good afternoon, everybody! I was going to blog yesterday but was sidetracked by Squirrels that Run Up the Tree picketing my house. They are protesting because I turned off their disco party on Sunday night! Lights were flashing everywhere! Squirrels Running Up the Tree were carrying hookahs and other things and when the first topless Squirrels showed up - enough was enough!

I am not kidding you!

HaHa!

I’m just messin’ with all ya’ll. Can ya dig it, ya’know what I’m sayin’?

Anyway, I want to talk about golf today. I know many of you probably think golf is the most boring sport in the world to watch - and it is! Especially if you don’t play or are not familiar with the sport and its players.

Like snowboarding, golf is a sport based on an individual’s skills. When I snowboard, I love to test myself by pushing the limits of my abilities - I sometimes take a hard fall and at other times, I achieve what I set out to do in a specific run. Regardless, it is me and the mountain and nobody else.

Golf is a bit like that except green grass replaces snow moguls and my golf skills are challenged by a golf course’s layout and design. Instead of picking lines that I want to snowboard down a mountain, I pick angles for my golf shots and this means there’s lots of strategy involved. In golf, there is almost nothing that compares to making a shot exactly as you had envisioned.

The other thing about golf that I enjoy is the fact that I am a pretty good golfer. When I introduce myself in groups and remind the players that I am deaf, they tend to look at me as some sort of novelty - until a well-placed shot cures takes care of that.

I have often thought the fact I am deaf and a good golfer intimidates many hearing golfers. I am not at all saying that I am fearsome or anything - it’s just that it seems many players feel like they should naturally be better than a “deaf dude,” like me.

One time, I hit a shot with my driver that went well over 350 yards and people freaked out! They were shocked! They were immobilized! And then they said things like, “Wow! Deaf people must be really good at golf!”

HaHa!

The terminology for golf is simple to understand and it is my hope to inspire many people - deaf and not - to take up golf as a recreational sport. So, that means I will have to make it interesting for all ya’ll who think golf is boring.

I will do my best! And I will share some of the things I have seen and experienced on golf courses with all ya’ll.

Like the time I drove a golf cart right up to the golf hole on a prestigious golf course and was almost lynched by angry, white men! They were outraged! They were appalled!

I am not kidding you!

Anyway, I have to go now - I’m going to the driving range to work on my short irons. I hope all ya’ll have a great afternoon and evening - I’ll see you tomorrow!

Be good .. or be good at it.

Paotie

Denver - Good afternoon, everybody! I have received word that UFC.com has published an article featuring Matt Hamill responding to the deaf community’s so-called controversy regarding his film. Hamill addresses the “controversy” surrounding his decision to cast a hearing actor in the starring role in a film about Hamill’s life.

He expresses “shock” at the controversy and acknowledges that he understands the “segment of the deaf community” that is criticizing his decision. Yet, he remains firm in his decision to cast Eben Kostbar as the role of Hamill in the un-yet-made film.

Click here to read the UFC.com article.

Paotie’s Postscript: Great! It is too bad that the “controversy” caused audition cancellations for other deaf actors and actresses at RIT and Gallaudet. Regardless, Matt Hamill worked for his movie and is entitled to cast whomever he wants in it.

As lots of people have said (and join in if you like):

GO MATT GO!!

Be good .. or be good at it.

Paotie