Summary
For the past few days, the chocolate sales around the school have gone up, and Brian is very happy and can not wait to tell Brother Leon. But Brian wasn't sure why the sales had gone up, but he had a feeling that the Vigils had something to do with the sales going up. He had seen some members of the Vigils talk to kids in the hallways and he was sure they were talking about the chocolate sales. Carter, the head of the Vigils, was talking to Brian about the sales and they began talking about the sales. When Brother Leon returned, they totaled the chocolate sales and discovered that they had sold most of the chocolate boxes. Thsi made Brother Leon very happy, and he finally called Brian by his first name and Brian got a lot of cheers when we entered the auditorium, and that made him feel like a football hero. Brother Leon was reading the names of the students that he thought had sold a lot of chocolates, even though they hadn't sold even one chocolate, when he read Jerry's name. Jerry then like always answered with a no. All of a sudden, a student named Harold Darcy decided to ask why wasn't Jerry selling the chocolates. Was it because he thought he was better than everybody else? But Jerry that Brother Leon had said in the beginning of the sale that it was all voluntary and he didn't want to sell any. Later on the day, The Goober learned that he eventually had sold the fifty boxes, but eh didn;t want those boxes to be sold because he wanted to support Jerry, but eh couldn't get in trouble so he didn't say anything. But he felt bad and on his way to his locker he was crying. When Jerry left from practice, he realized that Emile Janza was was calling him. Janza was telling Jerry that he was staying inside a closet and another group of guys approached Jerry and began to punch him and kick him. Eventually, they left and Jerry went home. He decided to take a shower so that nobody would see that he had bee beat up. In chapter 33, we learn that Janza beat Jerry up because he wanted to become part of teh Vigils, and this is what Arcie had told him to do. Later the Vigils call a meeting after school. Jerry had to fight against Janza to get revenge, but they had to fight by the Vigils rules. Carter would be pulling a piece of paper from a cardboard box which ahd directions to what Jerry was going to to do Janza or Janza was going to do to Jerry. They were punching each other and then Janza began to beat Jerry up even though Carter didn't pick a card. Jerry then was in the floor protecting himself but he was badly hurt. The Goober was watching the fight and once the lights went out, he went to help Jerry get up. Jerry had a broken jaw and while he is on the abulance on his way to the hospital, and Archie tells Brother Jacques that the chocolates had all been sold, but this had been Jerry's punishment for refusing to sell the chocolates.
Quotes
"The platform was brilliantly lit again, like an operating table, but the stadium was almost empty, a few curious stragglers still hanging around. Bitterly, Goober had watched the guys leaving, chased away by Brother Jacques and a couple of other faculty members." (Cormier 258).
Response
I felt really sad when I read this part. I knew that a lot of people didn't like Jerry because he wasn't selling the chocolates, but I never thought that even the teacher were not going to help him when he was in trouble. When he was getting beat up all that Brother Jacques and Brother Leon did, was just stare at him and leave after the Vigils. This shows the power that the Vigils had over a full school, made of both students and teachers.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
The Chocolate War (149-196)
Summary
Brian had to talk to Brother Leon about the chocolate sales. He knew that the sales had gone down in the past couple of days and he was very scared of Brother Leon. When Brother Leon entered the room, Brian was shivering. Brian began to read off the names of the students who had sold enough chocolates. Then Brian began to read off the names of all the other students who sold chocolates. When Brian read Jerry's name, Brother Leon then turned around and began talking to Brian. Brother Leon told Brian that the students not selling chocolates was a disease and the cause of the disease was Jerry Renault. School was over and Jerry was walking with The Goober. Goober told Jerry that he was going to quit football. Jerry asked him why he didn't want to play football and the Goober kept going on and on about something rotten and plain evil in the school. After Jerry and Goober sat down in the lawn for a while, Goober asked Jerry to sell the chocolates, and Jerry answered by asking him to play football. After that Jerry and Goober both went to the bus stop, but the girl that Jerry had seen at the stop a couple of times was not there when they arrived. Brother Leon had called Archie and was talking to him about the chocolate sale and how bad it was going. He was telling Archie that if he didn't do something about it, he would be in big trouble, but Archie knew that the only one in trouble was Brother Leon.The next day Archie called a meeting of The Vigils and Jerry was there also. Archie wanted to talk to Jeryy about selling te chocolates. In the beginning Archie was playing games with Jerry, telling him that there were no secrets between The Vigils. When Jerry said No, then Archie stopped the games and told him that he had to sell the chocolates and there usually there was a punishment for those who didn't obery The Vigils, but this was an exception and they were asking him to sell the chocolates and tell Brother Leon that he would sell the chocolates. The next day Jerry went up to Brother Leon and told him that he wouldn't sell the chocolates. This is when Jerry began to get calls at home late at night, and nobody would say anything from the other side of the phone. In art class, Jery had to do a landscape, and he left it on his teachers desk, the teacher couldn't find it and told Jerry that he would fail if he didn't have the landscape by the next day. When Jerry opens his locker he sees the ruined poster, his gym shoes were slashed up. He then realized this was a message.
Quotes
"Jerry opened his locker. The mess wa still there. He hadn't torn down the poster or removed the sneakers, letting them remain there as symbols." (Cormier 196).
Reaction
This quote made me think about what had happened earlier in the story. I think this was done to Jerry by the Vigils because they were clear with him about teh chocolate sale, and they told him that if he wouldn't sell them, then punishement was the other option. This is the punishment that Jerry is getting for disoberying the Vigils.
Brian had to talk to Brother Leon about the chocolate sales. He knew that the sales had gone down in the past couple of days and he was very scared of Brother Leon. When Brother Leon entered the room, Brian was shivering. Brian began to read off the names of the students who had sold enough chocolates. Then Brian began to read off the names of all the other students who sold chocolates. When Brian read Jerry's name, Brother Leon then turned around and began talking to Brian. Brother Leon told Brian that the students not selling chocolates was a disease and the cause of the disease was Jerry Renault. School was over and Jerry was walking with The Goober. Goober told Jerry that he was going to quit football. Jerry asked him why he didn't want to play football and the Goober kept going on and on about something rotten and plain evil in the school. After Jerry and Goober sat down in the lawn for a while, Goober asked Jerry to sell the chocolates, and Jerry answered by asking him to play football. After that Jerry and Goober both went to the bus stop, but the girl that Jerry had seen at the stop a couple of times was not there when they arrived. Brother Leon had called Archie and was talking to him about the chocolate sale and how bad it was going. He was telling Archie that if he didn't do something about it, he would be in big trouble, but Archie knew that the only one in trouble was Brother Leon.The next day Archie called a meeting of The Vigils and Jerry was there also. Archie wanted to talk to Jeryy about selling te chocolates. In the beginning Archie was playing games with Jerry, telling him that there were no secrets between The Vigils. When Jerry said No, then Archie stopped the games and told him that he had to sell the chocolates and there usually there was a punishment for those who didn't obery The Vigils, but this was an exception and they were asking him to sell the chocolates and tell Brother Leon that he would sell the chocolates. The next day Jerry went up to Brother Leon and told him that he wouldn't sell the chocolates. This is when Jerry began to get calls at home late at night, and nobody would say anything from the other side of the phone. In art class, Jery had to do a landscape, and he left it on his teachers desk, the teacher couldn't find it and told Jerry that he would fail if he didn't have the landscape by the next day. When Jerry opens his locker he sees the ruined poster, his gym shoes were slashed up. He then realized this was a message.
Quotes
"Jerry opened his locker. The mess wa still there. He hadn't torn down the poster or removed the sneakers, letting them remain there as symbols." (Cormier 196).
Reaction
This quote made me think about what had happened earlier in the story. I think this was done to Jerry by the Vigils because they were clear with him about teh chocolate sale, and they told him that if he wouldn't sell them, then punishement was the other option. This is the punishment that Jerry is getting for disoberying the Vigils.
Monday, December 6, 2010
The Chocolate War (102-149)
Summary
A lot of students were going to different houses after school, but none of them was able to sell any boxes of chocolates. When Howie met Richy, he was telling Richy how he didn't want to sell chocolates. He says tha he came to this school because Trinity is the best prep school for college. There were a lot of different trophies in the auditorium, but all that they were doing with the chocolate sale was just nonsense. This wasn't preparing them for college. They were just being used to sell the chocolates. And now that there was a student that refused to sell, it made other students come forward and refuse to selling chocolates as well. And to say that the kid who refused wa only a freshman, it made a lot of students come forward. After Howie and Richy stopped selling chocolates, other students stopped as well. This made the chocolate sale drop down significantly. Brother Leon was repeating Jerry's name over and over again, because it was liek a disease. Once Jerry stopped selling, then a lot of other students stopped as well. Later on, the Goober announced that he is going to quit the football team. The Goober explained to Jerry that since Brother Eugene has been sick, there is something rotten in the school. Jerry says that it is the Vigils, and the Goober agrees. He says that it is just plain evil.
Quotes
"And now along comes a freshman. A child. He says no. He says 'I'm not going to sell the chocolates.' Beautiful. Something I never thought of before-just stop selling them." (Cormier 142)
Response
Howie was referring to Jerry when he was talking about the freshman that didn't want to sell the chocolats. I was kind of surprised when I read what Howie was telling Richy, because Jerry was just a freshman and i didn't think that him not selling the chocolates was going to make a lot of other students stop as well. Jerry had an impact on the other students, even though he wasn't trying to make other people stop selling.
A lot of students were going to different houses after school, but none of them was able to sell any boxes of chocolates. When Howie met Richy, he was telling Richy how he didn't want to sell chocolates. He says tha he came to this school because Trinity is the best prep school for college. There were a lot of different trophies in the auditorium, but all that they were doing with the chocolate sale was just nonsense. This wasn't preparing them for college. They were just being used to sell the chocolates. And now that there was a student that refused to sell, it made other students come forward and refuse to selling chocolates as well. And to say that the kid who refused wa only a freshman, it made a lot of students come forward. After Howie and Richy stopped selling chocolates, other students stopped as well. This made the chocolate sale drop down significantly. Brother Leon was repeating Jerry's name over and over again, because it was liek a disease. Once Jerry stopped selling, then a lot of other students stopped as well. Later on, the Goober announced that he is going to quit the football team. The Goober explained to Jerry that since Brother Eugene has been sick, there is something rotten in the school. Jerry says that it is the Vigils, and the Goober agrees. He says that it is just plain evil.
Quotes
"And now along comes a freshman. A child. He says no. He says 'I'm not going to sell the chocolates.' Beautiful. Something I never thought of before-just stop selling them." (Cormier 142)
Response
Howie was referring to Jerry when he was talking about the freshman that didn't want to sell the chocolats. I was kind of surprised when I read what Howie was telling Richy, because Jerry was just a freshman and i didn't think that him not selling the chocolates was going to make a lot of other students stop as well. Jerry had an impact on the other students, even though he wasn't trying to make other people stop selling.
Monday, November 29, 2010
The Chocolate War (57-102)
Summary
Chapter Nine begins by tlking about the death of Jerry's mother. After his mom came back from the hospital because they couldn't do anything more to help her, Jerry, his father and his uncles would take turns going tinto her room and taking care of her. Sometimes Jerry would leave the room because watching his mothers body alterate was too much for him. When Jerry's mom died suddenly, at three-thirty in the afternoon, Jerry was angry. He was angry at his inability to do anything to help his mother. Jerry felt abandoned and hopeless. Jerry and his father sold their house and they moved into a garden appartment because they couldn't live in a place full of memories of his mother. When Jerry went home one day after practice he saw his dad sleeping He had hear tht if people are maried for a long time then they can resemble each other, and suddenly Jerry could see his mother's face in his father's. Now Jerry had to go through seeing her in the coffin all over again. Then Jerry's father woke ups and they started talking about their day. Jerry's father told him that his job went fine. Jerry wondered what his life would be like when he would grow up. Jerry wanted to ask his father what his life had been like, but he didn't want to sound crzy so he decided not to talk about it at all. Brother Leon was the teacher that had asked for the help of the Vigils to sell boxes of chocolaters. When he was going over the names of the people and how many boxes of chocolate he had sold, students were laughing at the people had sold only 3 boxes in a week, but when Jerry's name came up everyone was quiet. The teacher knew that Jerry had not sold any boxes but he still called on Jerry, even though he still got the same negative response he always got. So brother Leon quickly called on a different student. At practice Jerry was again being tackled over and over again until he finally accomplished to give a pass to Goober who scored a touchdown. The coach was congratulating Jerry. When Jerry went back to his locker he saw a paper in his locker which read "Assignment". Jerry didn't know what the assignment was, but he knew who it was from, the Vigils.
Quotes
"As he hit the ground, Jerry heard the yells and the cheers that told him that The Goober ad caught the pass and gone on to score." (Cormier 77).
Response
I was really happy when i read this quote. It made me feel better for Jerry. He was finally relieved and he could finally take a breath. I thought that this might be the beginning of the change that Jerry migh go through now. He will believe more in himself and that is going to help him throughtout his life, and he will not have to worry about his life being as boring as his father.
Chapter Nine begins by tlking about the death of Jerry's mother. After his mom came back from the hospital because they couldn't do anything more to help her, Jerry, his father and his uncles would take turns going tinto her room and taking care of her. Sometimes Jerry would leave the room because watching his mothers body alterate was too much for him. When Jerry's mom died suddenly, at three-thirty in the afternoon, Jerry was angry. He was angry at his inability to do anything to help his mother. Jerry felt abandoned and hopeless. Jerry and his father sold their house and they moved into a garden appartment because they couldn't live in a place full of memories of his mother. When Jerry went home one day after practice he saw his dad sleeping He had hear tht if people are maried for a long time then they can resemble each other, and suddenly Jerry could see his mother's face in his father's. Now Jerry had to go through seeing her in the coffin all over again. Then Jerry's father woke ups and they started talking about their day. Jerry's father told him that his job went fine. Jerry wondered what his life would be like when he would grow up. Jerry wanted to ask his father what his life had been like, but he didn't want to sound crzy so he decided not to talk about it at all. Brother Leon was the teacher that had asked for the help of the Vigils to sell boxes of chocolaters. When he was going over the names of the people and how many boxes of chocolate he had sold, students were laughing at the people had sold only 3 boxes in a week, but when Jerry's name came up everyone was quiet. The teacher knew that Jerry had not sold any boxes but he still called on Jerry, even though he still got the same negative response he always got. So brother Leon quickly called on a different student. At practice Jerry was again being tackled over and over again until he finally accomplished to give a pass to Goober who scored a touchdown. The coach was congratulating Jerry. When Jerry went back to his locker he saw a paper in his locker which read "Assignment". Jerry didn't know what the assignment was, but he knew who it was from, the Vigils.
Quotes
"As he hit the ground, Jerry heard the yells and the cheers that told him that The Goober ad caught the pass and gone on to score." (Cormier 77).
Response
I was really happy when i read this quote. It made me feel better for Jerry. He was finally relieved and he could finally take a breath. I thought that this might be the beginning of the change that Jerry migh go through now. He will believe more in himself and that is going to help him throughtout his life, and he will not have to worry about his life being as boring as his father.
Monday, November 22, 2010
The Chocolate War 1-57
Summary
Jerry Renault is a freshman in high school. He is not a big kid, but he wants to make the football team. He tries out for the team, but since he is not a big kid, he gets beat up by the bigger guys. He keeps on getting tackled over and over again, but he doesn't stay down. Everytime he is down, he keeps on getting back up. The coach is really impressed by Jerry, and he decides to tell him to return the next day. Even though after the practice Jerry was feeling very sick, all he could think about was making the team. Obie and Archie are members of the Virgils. Archie is the leader of the gang. The Virgils is a gang in Jerry's school. Obie hates Archie, but he admires Archie's plans and his cleverness. Archie is known for giving students orders to do cruel things. Jerry is looking at a pornographic magazine at a store and he wants to buy it, but he feels that if he buys it, then he would be doing something that is wrong. When Jerry finally buys the magazine he went home, but he didn't know what to do with the magazine and he felt guilty, so he decided to throw it away.
Quotes
"THEY MURDERED HIM." ( Cormier 1)
Response
When I first read the quote I didn't really know what was going on because it was int he beginning of the story and I was very surprised of how a book can start with a quote such as this. But as I read through the story, I began to understand what it was about. The quote was talking about Jerry getting tackled over and over in football. He wasn't a big guy, but he never stood down, which made the coach like him. Jerry wanted to become part of the football team so bad, that he was getting killed in the tryouts. In this quote we lean a lot about Jerry, we lean that if he wants something really bad, then he is going to keep at it untill he achieves it.
Jerry Renault is a freshman in high school. He is not a big kid, but he wants to make the football team. He tries out for the team, but since he is not a big kid, he gets beat up by the bigger guys. He keeps on getting tackled over and over again, but he doesn't stay down. Everytime he is down, he keeps on getting back up. The coach is really impressed by Jerry, and he decides to tell him to return the next day. Even though after the practice Jerry was feeling very sick, all he could think about was making the team. Obie and Archie are members of the Virgils. Archie is the leader of the gang. The Virgils is a gang in Jerry's school. Obie hates Archie, but he admires Archie's plans and his cleverness. Archie is known for giving students orders to do cruel things. Jerry is looking at a pornographic magazine at a store and he wants to buy it, but he feels that if he buys it, then he would be doing something that is wrong. When Jerry finally buys the magazine he went home, but he didn't know what to do with the magazine and he felt guilty, so he decided to throw it away.
Quotes
"THEY MURDERED HIM." ( Cormier 1)
Response
When I first read the quote I didn't really know what was going on because it was int he beginning of the story and I was very surprised of how a book can start with a quote such as this. But as I read through the story, I began to understand what it was about. The quote was talking about Jerry getting tackled over and over in football. He wasn't a big guy, but he never stood down, which made the coach like him. Jerry wanted to become part of the football team so bad, that he was getting killed in the tryouts. In this quote we lean a lot about Jerry, we lean that if he wants something really bad, then he is going to keep at it untill he achieves it.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Beneath The Surface 197-282
Summary
Michael and Bob were in Athens, Greece. This meant that the 2004 Olympic Games were on. It was the time for Michael to show what he had been training for this whole time. Michael was rooming with the captain of the USA team, Lenny. When Michael needed to relax, he would watch Miracle. It was Michaels favorite movie. The Games had officially started and Michael was ready for his first race. It was a very close race, but Michaels hard training with Bob had officially paid of. Both Bob and him were happy with the results. It was Michaels first gold medal, and that was one of the happiest moments of Michaels life. But the Games were still on and Michael had other races that he needed training for. He knew at that moment that this Olympic Games were going to be a very huge success in his life. But the Games had just started. Eventually that one gold medal led to another gold medal, and that one led to another gold medal. Bob and Michael kept practicing after every race, because Michael needed all the training he could get. Not only that, but Michael also broke world records. The day after the 200 free was the only time during the Games that Michael had to swim two finals on the same evening. Even though he only had fourty minutes between races, Michael did his best to spend those minutes efficiently. Michael had won six individual events, what made him the first person to ever do that for the U.S team. By winning six gold medals and two bronze medals, he had made his dream come true. When the swimming competition was over, Michael finally had some time to spend watching other events, and he was finally able to take some time off the hard work training that he had been doing. Michael not only had accomplished his dream of winning one gold medal in the Olympics, but he had succeded way above it by winning eight medals overall in one Olympic Game. Now all he had to think about were the 2008 Olympic Games.
Quote
"I'll always regret not having a chance to race with him in Athens" (Phelps 268).
Michael said this after the news he got about Ian Thorpe retiring.
Reaction
This quote is very interesting. It is showing us how Michael feels about Ian Thorpe retiring form swimming. This quote is also showing us that Michael wanted to race Ian Thorpe, because he was one of the best that there had been, and to be the best, you have to defeat the best. And I think that is exactly what Phelps was trying to do.
Michael and Bob were in Athens, Greece. This meant that the 2004 Olympic Games were on. It was the time for Michael to show what he had been training for this whole time. Michael was rooming with the captain of the USA team, Lenny. When Michael needed to relax, he would watch Miracle. It was Michaels favorite movie. The Games had officially started and Michael was ready for his first race. It was a very close race, but Michaels hard training with Bob had officially paid of. Both Bob and him were happy with the results. It was Michaels first gold medal, and that was one of the happiest moments of Michaels life. But the Games were still on and Michael had other races that he needed training for. He knew at that moment that this Olympic Games were going to be a very huge success in his life. But the Games had just started. Eventually that one gold medal led to another gold medal, and that one led to another gold medal. Bob and Michael kept practicing after every race, because Michael needed all the training he could get. Not only that, but Michael also broke world records. The day after the 200 free was the only time during the Games that Michael had to swim two finals on the same evening. Even though he only had fourty minutes between races, Michael did his best to spend those minutes efficiently. Michael had won six individual events, what made him the first person to ever do that for the U.S team. By winning six gold medals and two bronze medals, he had made his dream come true. When the swimming competition was over, Michael finally had some time to spend watching other events, and he was finally able to take some time off the hard work training that he had been doing. Michael not only had accomplished his dream of winning one gold medal in the Olympics, but he had succeded way above it by winning eight medals overall in one Olympic Game. Now all he had to think about were the 2008 Olympic Games.
Quote
"I'll always regret not having a chance to race with him in Athens" (Phelps 268).
Michael said this after the news he got about Ian Thorpe retiring.
Reaction
This quote is very interesting. It is showing us how Michael feels about Ian Thorpe retiring form swimming. This quote is also showing us that Michael wanted to race Ian Thorpe, because he was one of the best that there had been, and to be the best, you have to defeat the best. And I think that is exactly what Phelps was trying to do.
Beneath The Surface 147-196
Summary
"When Bob and I have our worst arguments, they're over by the next day, sometimes by the next hour...because he respects how hard I work and i respect how much he knows" (Phelps 152). Bob and Michael argue with each other a lot and sometimes they use each other as an excuse to take their anger off, but this only happens because they know how much they need each other and they can not function without a good relation. Bob trains Michael to become one of the greatest swimmers there have ever been, and Michael pays him back by breaking world records and winning championships. This makes them depend on each other. Without Bob Michael would haven't won all the medals he has won and without Michael, Bob wouldn't have been able to become such a successful trainer. But Bob and Michael also have a good relationship outside of swimming. They are there for each other. When Michael needed help Bob was there and Michael was there when something in Bob's life was going the other way. Bob and Michael would talk about school, friends, girls, family, music and other things like that. "I relied on him for the kind of counsel a father gives to his son" (Phelps 165). Bob was like a father to Michael. He had been a big impact on Michael, not only in his career but also in his life. Bob had helped him go through bad times and he had been there to celebrate with Michael on his happiest moments, just like a father. When Bob got an invite for a job in Michigan, he was happy about it, but he didn't want to break up the team between him and Michael. Michael was not happy about it, but he knew this was life and hard decisions had to be made.
Quote
"Would Bob have an interest in inteviewing for the upcoming vacancy, Jon wanted to know" (Phelps 161).
Reaction
When I first read this quote, I was surprised. I didn't think that Bob would ever be interested in another job, since his relation with Michael was so good. He had become as a father to Michael. But, for Bob, the job opportunity was tempting. He wanted the job because he would work there for a lot of years to come, but with Michael his career would be over in four or maximum eight years. This is going to be a hard decision for Bob because he had been such an impact in Michaels life and career, and he didnt wan't this relation to change.
"When Bob and I have our worst arguments, they're over by the next day, sometimes by the next hour...because he respects how hard I work and i respect how much he knows" (Phelps 152). Bob and Michael argue with each other a lot and sometimes they use each other as an excuse to take their anger off, but this only happens because they know how much they need each other and they can not function without a good relation. Bob trains Michael to become one of the greatest swimmers there have ever been, and Michael pays him back by breaking world records and winning championships. This makes them depend on each other. Without Bob Michael would haven't won all the medals he has won and without Michael, Bob wouldn't have been able to become such a successful trainer. But Bob and Michael also have a good relationship outside of swimming. They are there for each other. When Michael needed help Bob was there and Michael was there when something in Bob's life was going the other way. Bob and Michael would talk about school, friends, girls, family, music and other things like that. "I relied on him for the kind of counsel a father gives to his son" (Phelps 165). Bob was like a father to Michael. He had been a big impact on Michael, not only in his career but also in his life. Bob had helped him go through bad times and he had been there to celebrate with Michael on his happiest moments, just like a father. When Bob got an invite for a job in Michigan, he was happy about it, but he didn't want to break up the team between him and Michael. Michael was not happy about it, but he knew this was life and hard decisions had to be made.
Quote
"Would Bob have an interest in inteviewing for the upcoming vacancy, Jon wanted to know" (Phelps 161).
Reaction
When I first read this quote, I was surprised. I didn't think that Bob would ever be interested in another job, since his relation with Michael was so good. He had become as a father to Michael. But, for Bob, the job opportunity was tempting. He wanted the job because he would work there for a lot of years to come, but with Michael his career would be over in four or maximum eight years. This is going to be a hard decision for Bob because he had been such an impact in Michaels life and career, and he didnt wan't this relation to change.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Beneath The Surface 96-147
Summary
Life as a Pro talks about how Michael needed an agent to represent him. His mom, Bob and him went to different agencies and noone impressed them. They visited McLean, in Virginia, which was a large agency that represented Olympic Athletes. They were talking to diffeernt agents and they were going to leave, when one day Bob was watching the Today Show and saw an interview of Peter. Bob told Michael that Peter got what Olympic Athletes had to do and he was going to be the perfect agent for him. They arranged a metting with him a month later because Peter was busy with some other player that had just come back from the Olympic Games and had won Olympic medals. When the meeting started Michael let his mom and Bob talk to Peter but then after 20 minutes Peter asked Michael a question. "Michael, what are your goals?"(Phelps 106) This quote is telling us that Peter wanted to see what Michael wanted to do with his life to see if Michael was going to be able to be his new player or no. After the metting broke up, Peter started talking to Michael alone. He was asking Michael all types of questions like, what type of music do you like, his hobbies, what videogames Michael played. He was asking Michael a lot of different questions aout him, because he wanted to learn as much as he could about Michael and this is showing us that Peter was interested in Michael. Michael really liked Peter and they decided to hire him immediately. As soon as they started working together, Peter arranged media meetings for Michael because he wanted Michael to be comfortable with the media when Michael was going to win medals and championships. Once that started happening, Michael started signing t-shirts and he was giving outographs to people and he would get phone calls from random people that he didnt know. At the Nationals in Ft. Lauderdale, Michael set off and American record andche was close to the world record. That is when Michael realized what not training hard would do to him, and from that moment on he was doing whatever Bob would ask Michael to, because he knew that Bob was only trying to help Michael improve. But all the hard work that Michael and Bob had been doing paid off because Michael was voted U.S Swimmer of the Year and Bob the U.S Coach of the Year.
Quote
"After that i read the book pretty intensely, passed the written test, got my learner's permit and everntually got my license in time for senior year. Ah, freedom." (Phelps 113).
Reaction
I thought that since Michael was now becoming famous he would have people drive him around. Michael took the test for his permit twice and he failed both times because he was too lazy to read the book, but when people started making fun of him, then he couldn't support it anymore and read the book and finally passed the test. This is telling is that if you dont do what you are supposed to, then you are going to face the consquences.
Life as a Pro talks about how Michael needed an agent to represent him. His mom, Bob and him went to different agencies and noone impressed them. They visited McLean, in Virginia, which was a large agency that represented Olympic Athletes. They were talking to diffeernt agents and they were going to leave, when one day Bob was watching the Today Show and saw an interview of Peter. Bob told Michael that Peter got what Olympic Athletes had to do and he was going to be the perfect agent for him. They arranged a metting with him a month later because Peter was busy with some other player that had just come back from the Olympic Games and had won Olympic medals. When the meeting started Michael let his mom and Bob talk to Peter but then after 20 minutes Peter asked Michael a question. "Michael, what are your goals?"(Phelps 106) This quote is telling us that Peter wanted to see what Michael wanted to do with his life to see if Michael was going to be able to be his new player or no. After the metting broke up, Peter started talking to Michael alone. He was asking Michael all types of questions like, what type of music do you like, his hobbies, what videogames Michael played. He was asking Michael a lot of different questions aout him, because he wanted to learn as much as he could about Michael and this is showing us that Peter was interested in Michael. Michael really liked Peter and they decided to hire him immediately. As soon as they started working together, Peter arranged media meetings for Michael because he wanted Michael to be comfortable with the media when Michael was going to win medals and championships. Once that started happening, Michael started signing t-shirts and he was giving outographs to people and he would get phone calls from random people that he didnt know. At the Nationals in Ft. Lauderdale, Michael set off and American record andche was close to the world record. That is when Michael realized what not training hard would do to him, and from that moment on he was doing whatever Bob would ask Michael to, because he knew that Bob was only trying to help Michael improve. But all the hard work that Michael and Bob had been doing paid off because Michael was voted U.S Swimmer of the Year and Bob the U.S Coach of the Year.
Quote
"After that i read the book pretty intensely, passed the written test, got my learner's permit and everntually got my license in time for senior year. Ah, freedom." (Phelps 113).
Reaction
I thought that since Michael was now becoming famous he would have people drive him around. Michael took the test for his permit twice and he failed both times because he was too lazy to read the book, but when people started making fun of him, then he couldn't support it anymore and read the book and finally passed the test. This is telling is that if you dont do what you are supposed to, then you are going to face the consquences.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Beneath The Surface (Phelps 52-96)
Summary
"Breaking Out" talks about Michael and his trainer Bob and their relationship. Michael was tired of all the practicing that he had been doing over and over again. One day Bob told Michael to do 15 set of 50's like everyone else in his team. Michael got tired through the half and he slowed down a little bit, but his teammates who were behind him were telling him to go faster which was something he couldn't do. Bob got mad at him for slowing down and not getting back on the same speed he started and told Michael to come off the pool and that he wasn't goin to be on the team until he finished. Michael didn't really think that Bob was serious. "Bob got on the phone with mom and schedule a 5:30 a.m meeting with my parents and me for the next day. It was as fun as going to the dentist."(Phelps 52). This quote shows us that Bob was being serious and that Michael needed to finish the sets or else he was going to be in trouble. In the '99 juniors in Orlando, Michael finished in the top four three times and he beat his own record for the 200 fly by 10 seconds. Bob was very proud of him and he was congratulating him. Bob also told him that winning first place might have been bad luck for him. This is showing us the improvement in Bobs relationship with Michael. This was something that Bob didnt really tell Michael and Michael was going to hear it in a long time. When they got back home they started training again. Bob had told Michael that it was going to be his reating day but when they arrived at the pool Bob told him that he needed to get ready because they were going to practice. MIchael told Bob that he didnt have his suit with him and he got on the car with Michael and they went to his house so Michael could get his suit.This is explaining to us that what happed in Orlando wasn't going to happen again and that now MIchael had to go back to the training and to the yelling.
Quote
"Later, my English teacher Jeff Brotman welomed me back and asked in a jest, Michael, do you have any excuse for your absences."(Phelps 84).
Reaction
I was surprised by this quote because even though Michael Phelps had just come back from winning an Olympic medal, he was still treated like he was just another student by his teacher. I was surprised because now he still had to go to school, do homework and live a normal life like everyone else. I didn't think that Michael was going to back to school because he had started his Olymic career at such an early age and he had more Olympic medals for him to come. So why would he go back to school when he could spend that time practicing for his next matches and the next Olympic Games?
"Breaking Out" talks about Michael and his trainer Bob and their relationship. Michael was tired of all the practicing that he had been doing over and over again. One day Bob told Michael to do 15 set of 50's like everyone else in his team. Michael got tired through the half and he slowed down a little bit, but his teammates who were behind him were telling him to go faster which was something he couldn't do. Bob got mad at him for slowing down and not getting back on the same speed he started and told Michael to come off the pool and that he wasn't goin to be on the team until he finished. Michael didn't really think that Bob was serious. "Bob got on the phone with mom and schedule a 5:30 a.m meeting with my parents and me for the next day. It was as fun as going to the dentist."(Phelps 52). This quote shows us that Bob was being serious and that Michael needed to finish the sets or else he was going to be in trouble. In the '99 juniors in Orlando, Michael finished in the top four three times and he beat his own record for the 200 fly by 10 seconds. Bob was very proud of him and he was congratulating him. Bob also told him that winning first place might have been bad luck for him. This is showing us the improvement in Bobs relationship with Michael. This was something that Bob didnt really tell Michael and Michael was going to hear it in a long time. When they got back home they started training again. Bob had told Michael that it was going to be his reating day but when they arrived at the pool Bob told him that he needed to get ready because they were going to practice. MIchael told Bob that he didnt have his suit with him and he got on the car with Michael and they went to his house so Michael could get his suit.This is explaining to us that what happed in Orlando wasn't going to happen again and that now MIchael had to go back to the training and to the yelling.
Quote
"Later, my English teacher Jeff Brotman welomed me back and asked in a jest, Michael, do you have any excuse for your absences."(Phelps 84).
Reaction
I was surprised by this quote because even though Michael Phelps had just come back from winning an Olympic medal, he was still treated like he was just another student by his teacher. I was surprised because now he still had to go to school, do homework and live a normal life like everyone else. I didn't think that Michael was going to back to school because he had started his Olymic career at such an early age and he had more Olympic medals for him to come. So why would he go back to school when he could spend that time practicing for his next matches and the next Olympic Games?
Friday, October 1, 2010
Phelps 1-52
Summary
Michael Phelps is one of the worlds greatest swimmers. He first got interested in swimming at an early age of 7. At first he was scared of getting his face wet in the pool but his neighbour, who was also his trainer taught him how to swim by making him swim with his back first, so that this way he couldn't see how deep the pool was. His career started with a small, informal kick race. His first won was when he was swimming in an open water-mile contest in the Chesapeake Bay. When he would go to Zone meets to see his sisters Whitney and Hilary go to places like Princeton, New Jersey. and Gloucester for swimming tournaments he would fit in there. When he was younger people would make fun of him about his ears. He used to hate his ears because they were to big and he would try to cover them by putting hats on. He always appreciated people who were patient an supportive. His third grade teacher had a big impact on him. Instead of telling him what to do, she would ask him what he wanted to do and he really appreciated that. But swimming wasn't the only sport that he played. He had a collection of ribbons in his room for baseball and running and other sports. Tom Hines, his first coach didn't really like Michael at first but he realized that Michael was special. He was ineterested in swimming and that he was very passionate about it.
Quote
"I'm not sure if it was because of my big ears or short attention span, but i always appreciated people who were patient and supportive and i always identified with underdogs." (Phelps 20).
Reaction
My reaction to this quote was that this quite is very powerful. The author is saying that he "always appreciated people that were patient and supportive" because he would learn a lot from them. We also can learn a lot from this quote also because if we are behind on a race or in a game, then we need to be patient because this way we will be able to come back and have a shot at winning.
Michael Phelps is one of the worlds greatest swimmers. He first got interested in swimming at an early age of 7. At first he was scared of getting his face wet in the pool but his neighbour, who was also his trainer taught him how to swim by making him swim with his back first, so that this way he couldn't see how deep the pool was. His career started with a small, informal kick race. His first won was when he was swimming in an open water-mile contest in the Chesapeake Bay. When he would go to Zone meets to see his sisters Whitney and Hilary go to places like Princeton, New Jersey. and Gloucester for swimming tournaments he would fit in there. When he was younger people would make fun of him about his ears. He used to hate his ears because they were to big and he would try to cover them by putting hats on. He always appreciated people who were patient an supportive. His third grade teacher had a big impact on him. Instead of telling him what to do, she would ask him what he wanted to do and he really appreciated that. But swimming wasn't the only sport that he played. He had a collection of ribbons in his room for baseball and running and other sports. Tom Hines, his first coach didn't really like Michael at first but he realized that Michael was special. He was ineterested in swimming and that he was very passionate about it.
Quote
"I'm not sure if it was because of my big ears or short attention span, but i always appreciated people who were patient and supportive and i always identified with underdogs." (Phelps 20).
Reaction
My reaction to this quote was that this quite is very powerful. The author is saying that he "always appreciated people that were patient and supportive" because he would learn a lot from them. We also can learn a lot from this quote also because if we are behind on a race or in a game, then we need to be patient because this way we will be able to come back and have a shot at winning.
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