The Bow Tie

After finishing college I went to work with DuPont in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  I accepted a job as a First Line Supervisor in the textile fibers.  The dress code was implied.  A short sleeve shirt and a tie.
Due to the safety regulations, the tie had to be tucked between the second and third button of the shirt.


My Dad had taught me how to tie a half and full Windsor knots when I was a teenager.  I preferred the full Windsor and can still tie a pretty mean knot. For fourteen years I wore a tie to work every day.  Upon transferring to the Beaumont plant, I continued to wear a tie to work.  The dress code was a lot more casual and eventually I quit wearing ties.  Today I rarely wear a tie and like not doing so.


But, my story is about a bow tie.  During my college years I had many occasions to wear a tuxedo. Since my Dad and I were similar in size, he bought a tux that both of us could wear and not have to rent one for every wedding or formal occasion.  My Dad wore bow ties most of the time.  He refused to wear the "clip-on" type and tied his own ties.  Every time I had to wear a tux, my Dad would tie my tie. 


At one point in my senior year of college, I was in a wedding in Houston.  I took the tux along with all of the accessories with me.  It was not until the night before the wedding that I realized I did not know how to tie a "bow tie"   None of the people, adults included, that were  around, knew how to tie it.  All I remembered was Pop mentioning that you tie one just like a shoe string.  So, after the reception, I stayed up most of night practicing.  It was a lot harder than the full Windsor.


I finally got an acceptable knot.  Only problem it was a little crooked.  Fortunately, the bride was beautiful and no one cared about my tie.


Today, I am an expert at putting on a clip on bow tie.

Is There Algebra in Baseball

If you have read more than one of my blogs, then you know that I am a huge baseball fan.  Today you can watch multiple games on TV at almost any given time.  The basics of the game are still basically the same.  The presentation, marketing, analysis and a plethora of talk shows are new, but nothing beats the excitement of the game itself.




I prefer attending games in person.  However, watching the action on TV can be very entertaining.
But, radio broadcasts hold a special place in my heart.  It all started listening to the local minor league team on my crystal set.  As a result I have become fond of radio baseball analysts.


My three favorite radio baseball men of all time are:


1. Ed Dittert.  Among other sports, I best remember him for his late night play by play of the Beaumont Exporters in the 1950's.  He made me feel  like I was in the stadium with the Knot Hole Gang.


2. Loel Passe.  He was the Houston Colt .45s/Astros color guy in the 1960's.  He was a "homer" and full of enthusiasm.  I can still hear him shouting, "Now you chuckin' in there, Turk"


3. Harold Mann. The voice of Lamar University.  I always catch his radio broadcasts whenever, I can't be in the stadium.  On occasion he will give me a shout out.


As I was driving to work this morning listening to Harold and another radio guy talk about teachers having to take Texas History in order to teach in the State, when the subject shifted to Algebra.  My radio guy adulation suddenly screeched to a halt when both agreed that Algebra was useless and no one ever used it.  Well, Harold, this is a little baseball algebra for you.


Mathematician, Bill James, thoroughly analyzed baseball statistics to better measure and value players performance.  Billy Beane put the sabermetrics to practice with his Oakland A's.  How do you value performance? Is it Batting Average, RBIs, home runs, etc. Some people suggest that the most telling stat is OPS.  So, Harold and Jim Love, here is some Baseball Algebra for you.


OPS (Y) = OB%(X) + SLUG%(Z)


Variables:


T=At Bats                                          h=total hits (s+d+t+r)
s=singles                                            w=walks
d=doubles                                           p=hit by pitch
t=triples                                              f=Sacrificed Flies
r=home runs (aka round trippers)
Y = X + Z


Y =   h+w+p                   s+2d+3t+4r           
        T+p+f+p        +              T




Therefore,


Y = T*(h+w+p)+(s+2d+3t+4r)*(T+w+f+p)
                             T*(T+w+f+p)


A couple of Lamar U. examples.


Mike Ambort(LU single season HR record)           2005  OPS = 1.068
Erik Kanaby(LU single season batting avg record  2006   OPS =   .876


So, Harold, take this algebra to the air waves!