VANCOUVER—Doing less wound up getting Justin Smoak a lot more.The Toronto Blue Jays first baseman set career highs in almost every statistical category last season after realizing he needed to take his foot off the gas over the winter to survive the rigours of what can be a gruelling major league schedule.“I didn’t hit as much, which is crazy, you know what I mean?” said Smoak, when asked how his preparations changed. “I tried not to do as much as I’d done in the past.“That’s something that I feel like as a player — and guys will tell you all the time — (when) you take so many swings . . . at some point you get tired and your body’s going to get worn out, especially when you play 162 (games).”Speaking with reporters in the basement of an elementary school in suburban Burnaby, B.C., prior to one of the Blue Jays’ winter tour events last week, the hulking six-foot-four, 220-pound Smoak, who had all the … [Read more...] about New approach helped Jays’ Justin Smoak set career highs, reach potential
Career
Jordan Spieth sank a 91-foot putt, the longest of his career
Jordan Spieth sank a 91-foot putt at the Sony Open in Hawai’i. It was the longest putt of his career, and also matches the 91-foot putt Tiger Woods sank in 2014. Jordan Spieth proved once again that he is the Stephen Curry of the golf world and he was up to his old tricks in Hawai’i. While Spieth is not as long as other top golfers off the tee, the one area where they can’t match him is on long-distance putts. He proved that again during the second round of the Sony Open when he sank a 91-foot putt on the fifth hole. From way downtown! No big deal. It was the longest putt of Spieth’s career. Of course, he was a little lucky that the hole got in the way of his runaway train, or the ball might have scooted past the hole a way, but that’s irrelevant now. Curiously, the 91-foot putt matches Tiger Woods’ career long. Woods sank a putt from 91 feet in 2014 at Trump National Doral. Spieth finished the second … [Read more...] about Jordan Spieth sank a 91-foot putt, the longest of his career
The incredible career of Jim Mattis, the legendary Marine general turned defense secretary
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has achieved a legendary status on par with the heroes of the US Military’s past. Stories of his achievements and sayings are told in the same way that Patton, Pershing, Marshall, and MacArthur. He is widely viewed as above politics – a man dedicated to his job and his country. In his 44 years of service, Mattis rose through the ranks of the military to the very top. He has received numerous colorful nicknames – most notably “Mad Dog” and “Warrior Monk” – and made a number of memorable statements that will likely be quoted by service members for a long time to come. Take a look at the life and career of the Warrior Monk:James Norman Mattis was born September 8, 1950, in Pullman, Washington.Mattis enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves when he was 18 years old in 1969. He was commissioned a second lieutenant after graduating from Central Washington University with a history degree in … [Read more...] about The incredible career of Jim Mattis, the legendary Marine general turned defense secretary
Newcomer finds career path at GBC
When Jeny Benedict, an immigrant from Sri Lanka, arrived in Canada, she struggled to discover the right career path. While she says many people told her how difficult it would be to obtain her education, Benedict says George Brown — where, in 2010, she completed the medical office studies certificate and today is three courses away from finishing the medical practice management certificate — quickly changed the negative opinions into a positive.“I want immigrants to know it is doable,” says Benedict. “George Brown doesn’t just offer an educational experience but it also plays an important role in your personal growth. I have a daughter and wanted to show her I could live the life I want her to have, instead of just talking about it.”The first program Benedict attended, medical office studies, focuses on the knowledge and skills required to support the administration of offices in the health care and medical fields. The second, medical practice … [Read more...] about Newcomer finds career path at GBC
What it’s like to walk away from a job at Google to pursue a career in stand-up comedy
Comedian Sarah Cooper quit her job at Google three years ago to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. Cooper chatted with Recode’s Kara Swisher and former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo about the difficulty of giving up her job at Google, her observations on tech culture, and her aspirations as a comedian in a recent podcast. Three years ago, Sarah Cooper made an unusual career move. The Georgia Tech graduate had spent the past eight years working in user experience (UX) design at tech companies including Yahoo and Google, but now she was giving up her coveted career in tech to pursue her passion: comedy. Cooper recently chatted about her decision to quit Google with journalist Kara Swisher and former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo – who once pursued a career in standup comedy himself – on Recode’s latest Recode Decode podcast. Cooper talked about how she first decided to take a stab at stand-up to improve her acting skills … [Read more...] about What it’s like to walk away from a job at Google to pursue a career in stand-up comedy