You know, people get on me for being negative with my teams. They say I talk about how the teams I hate get all the breaks and how I've gone 13 years without any of my teams winning a championship. Well watch the NFL draft from this weekend and that's all you need to know.
Now this past offseason, the Jets didn't do much. They got Thomas Jones from the Bears (thanks again, Bears fans) and a few no-name guys. The Patriots, meanwhile must have hired Daniel Snyder or Donald trump to run the team because they sign almost every decent free agent. They added linebacker Adalius Thomas (the best defensive free agent), cornerback Tory James, running back Sammy Morris, receiver/returner Wes Welker, and receivers Donte Stallworth and Kelley Washington.
Now thanks to trades, my Jets wind up with only four picks for the draft. Meanwhile, the New England Patriots (the devil's team), make a few picks that I thought were questionable. So though I felt we had little to no shot to take our rightful spot as the best team in the AFC East (we already have the better QB anyway), the ultimate disgrace just happened.
Randy Moss gets traded to the Pats for a FOURTH ROUND DRAFT PICK! This is the most talented receiver in the whole league. And New England gets him for a middle round draft pick! If any other team were trading for Moss, they would have give two or three high level picks. And the kicker of this mess? He signs a reduced contract!
I should write Roger Goodell, the new NFL commissioner. Just cancel the league this season. Can we just give New England the Super Bowl now? Don't go through with the games. It's been painful enough watching the Devils win three Cups, the Bulls re-emerge as a NBA power at the expense of the Knicks, and the Braves win so many division titles (even if they've been clueless in the playoffs for 10 years). But this is a team who has won 3 Super Bowls with the coach who should have led the Jets to glory and quit on us after 1 day on the job and ran out like a weasel (and I'm not writing the word I want to).
Think I'm too dramatic? Try rooting for the kind of teams I root for in all four sports and see if you get out with no heartache and ageda.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Back on top, sort of
To quote Samoa Joe, I'll have you know that the champ is here. Jim, Matt, Eli, Kim, Cam, and I (Lazer) won the Willow Creek volleyball tournament on Sunday. In all fairness, it was decisive. We never allowed more than 15 points in any of the four games we won. So we win t-shirts (light blue) and 40 bucks to go out with. Something tells me for 6 bucks each, we'll be able to supersize those fries...
But you know something. Championships are a good feeling and a decent accomplishment, but that's it. Nothing more, nothing less. I'm proud of my own work this season and I'm especially proud of my teammates. I know the work I put in the gym got me ready physically to play the best volleyball I've ever played. But with every league I play in, I see more nad more truth in a quote from Cool Runnings, the movie about the Jamaican bobsled team. John Candy's character is talking to one of the sledders and he says "A gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you're not enough without it, you'll never be enough with it."
Well now it's softball season. We'll see what team I play on, if I even get an opportunity to play.
But you know something. Championships are a good feeling and a decent accomplishment, but that's it. Nothing more, nothing less. I'm proud of my own work this season and I'm especially proud of my teammates. I know the work I put in the gym got me ready physically to play the best volleyball I've ever played. But with every league I play in, I see more nad more truth in a quote from Cool Runnings, the movie about the Jamaican bobsled team. John Candy's character is talking to one of the sledders and he says "A gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you're not enough without it, you'll never be enough with it."
Well now it's softball season. We'll see what team I play on, if I even get an opportunity to play.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Sunday night rambling
And as Waylon Jennings said, don't mess around with any rambling man.
Well, I've got the house to myself for a week starting Tuesday. I'm actually not too thrilled about it. Hogan has to be alone in the house for nine hours a day minimum.
I'm going to see if I can bring him with me to work at night.
We wrapped up first place in volleyball and the playoffs are next week. But there's a new wrinkle. Now the #2 team (Mixed Nuts) has a full cheering section. As if it wasn't enough they have 10 players on their team and today they added an 11th who's 6'3! They brought 7 or 8 people to wave flags stomp on the bleachers, and do that God-forsaken wave. If there's one sports tradition that needs to go, this is the one.
I have eaten so bad this week. Burgers at Fuddrucker's, sausage, pizza, pork chop, sandwiches twice, well, at least I've gotten protein. I'm planning in hitting the gym 3-4 times this week after only going twice last week.
I made a big deposit in the bank today. Now why do they have to write two amounts of money on your paychecks? It's like "here's the money you bust your butt all week for. And here's what you're gonna get." What do we get for the taxes, all the free streetlight in the world? As far as I'm concerned give everyone a candle, give me my 150 dollars back!
I'm not going to go into specific details here, but I'm going to say a few things I've been wrestling with over the last few months. I think most times when we're undergoing major changes in life, we're aware something's happening but we don't know how it's going to look in the end. Well, I think I'm going through something like that right now. What's strange is I don't even know if I need a change right now or if it's something that's supposed to happen, or if it's just my own feelings. But I feel like I'm moving towards one place I'm new to and repelling away from another I've been doing for a long time. So I think about this questions.
Is it the excitement of a new experience?
Is it liking/not liking the complacency of what you know?
Is it having a hunger to add something fresh to a routine you've gotten used to?
Or is it that I'm just restless?
Basically, I don't have the answer to what's happening here. I don't want to abandon this thing that I know and have loved for a long time. But I feel it may time for me to take a hiatus for a while. Like the Eagles said, sometimes to keep it together, we have to leave it alone.
PS: Go Mets! Go Rangers!
Song pick: "Mr. Natural" Bee Gees
Well, I've got the house to myself for a week starting Tuesday. I'm actually not too thrilled about it. Hogan has to be alone in the house for nine hours a day minimum.
I'm going to see if I can bring him with me to work at night.
We wrapped up first place in volleyball and the playoffs are next week. But there's a new wrinkle. Now the #2 team (Mixed Nuts) has a full cheering section. As if it wasn't enough they have 10 players on their team and today they added an 11th who's 6'3! They brought 7 or 8 people to wave flags stomp on the bleachers, and do that God-forsaken wave. If there's one sports tradition that needs to go, this is the one.
I have eaten so bad this week. Burgers at Fuddrucker's, sausage, pizza, pork chop, sandwiches twice, well, at least I've gotten protein. I'm planning in hitting the gym 3-4 times this week after only going twice last week.
I made a big deposit in the bank today. Now why do they have to write two amounts of money on your paychecks? It's like "here's the money you bust your butt all week for. And here's what you're gonna get." What do we get for the taxes, all the free streetlight in the world? As far as I'm concerned give everyone a candle, give me my 150 dollars back!
I'm not going to go into specific details here, but I'm going to say a few things I've been wrestling with over the last few months. I think most times when we're undergoing major changes in life, we're aware something's happening but we don't know how it's going to look in the end. Well, I think I'm going through something like that right now. What's strange is I don't even know if I need a change right now or if it's something that's supposed to happen, or if it's just my own feelings. But I feel like I'm moving towards one place I'm new to and repelling away from another I've been doing for a long time. So I think about this questions.
Is it the excitement of a new experience?
Is it liking/not liking the complacency of what you know?
Is it having a hunger to add something fresh to a routine you've gotten used to?
Or is it that I'm just restless?
Basically, I don't have the answer to what's happening here. I don't want to abandon this thing that I know and have loved for a long time. But I feel it may time for me to take a hiatus for a while. Like the Eagles said, sometimes to keep it together, we have to leave it alone.
PS: Go Mets! Go Rangers!
Song pick: "Mr. Natural" Bee Gees
Thursday, April 12, 2007
My opinion on the Imus saga
I know that a lot of people who read this will disagree me. That's your opinion.
By now, everyone knows about the comments radio show host Don Imus and his producer made about the Rutgers' women's basketball team. Last night, MSNBC pulled their TV simulcast of the show. And this afternoon, CBS radio fired him. A lot of people agree with that decision. They believe Imus is a racist old man should have been fired. I do not. I am disgusted with these picketing activitsts (Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson). I am disgusted with MSNBC. I am disgusted with CBS radio. I am repulsed at the way this situation has gone down.
Now as a guy who listened to the show from time to time, let me explain the nature of the show. Because I think a lot of people don't know Don Imus' nature. It's a funny show and had been for over 20 years. He pokes fun at people constantly. He insults his family and friends. And he gets on politicians and public figures. He's been doing that forever. So of course, he's ruffled feathers along the way and he has his oppponents. And those opponents have been waiting for a chance to kick him off the air. And that's what this was. I believe this was a personal attack on Imus. While I do not believe there was any malice on Imus' part, there has been plenty of malice on these critics. And I think they don't have the whole story.
Now I am not one of these First Amendment advocates. I don't believe in free speech no matter what. Without a doubt, I was very offended by Imus' and Bernard McGuirk's (the show's producer) comments. Calling those young women "ho's" was stupid and insensitive. He deserved to be suspended from the show and people should have been offended.
But even if the firing was inevitable, other people are conducting themselves far worse than Imus. MSNBC (who has no ratings aside from Imus' show anyway) and CBS radio proved they have no class. Today and tomorrow, WFAN radio (the NY sports radio station Imus broadcasts on and I listen to religiously) is running their annual Radiothon to benefit the Tomorrow Children's Fund and the CJ Foundation for SIDS. Over the last 18 years, this event has raised over 50 million dollars. And the networks both fired Imus DURING the radiothon. They didn't wait until after the fundraiser. They hindered the potential of this event and fired him as soon as they could to serve their own agenda which was looking good to the public.
And what's the reason they give for the firing? The networks claimed they were offended by the comments and the content and they could not allow that to be broadcast to America. If you believe that, I have some ocean front property in Detroit I can sell you. They fired Imus because sponsors were pulling out and they feared they would lose money. It was about money and image. This had ZERO to do with concern for these young women or race or gender.
Now onto these "almighty activists." And I'm going to focus on Al Sharpton. This guy needs to just go away. As soon as the remarks were made, he immediately said he would never go on Imus's show again. Turns out Sharpton is hosting a show on satellite radio. Two days later, he has Imus on. What a hypocritcal thing to do. He got Imus in his own environment so he could rip him. If he and Jackson and Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey and all these people don't call for a firing, they look like sellouts to the black community. They care about themselves and hide behind God, peace on earth, and race relations to make themselves look good. Where were these people making a stand against drugs, hardcore rap music, and gangs? Apparently those are fine? Intent doesn't matter? I think it does.
I ask you: if Howard Stern, who is insulting by nature, had said this, would he have even gotten punished? A fine? A suspension. You'll have a hard time convincing me he would have been reprimanded in any way. Because that is what is expected out of him. So to me, while the message was a huge factor, it was not the only factor. The person who says something is almost as important, if not as important, as the words that are said. Because I've heard other public figures say far worse things about certain races, religions, backgrounds, etc. and not even get a slap on the wrist.
And I hope Don Imus hosts a radio show again in the future. That's my opinion.
By now, everyone knows about the comments radio show host Don Imus and his producer made about the Rutgers' women's basketball team. Last night, MSNBC pulled their TV simulcast of the show. And this afternoon, CBS radio fired him. A lot of people agree with that decision. They believe Imus is a racist old man should have been fired. I do not. I am disgusted with these picketing activitsts (Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson). I am disgusted with MSNBC. I am disgusted with CBS radio. I am repulsed at the way this situation has gone down.
Now as a guy who listened to the show from time to time, let me explain the nature of the show. Because I think a lot of people don't know Don Imus' nature. It's a funny show and had been for over 20 years. He pokes fun at people constantly. He insults his family and friends. And he gets on politicians and public figures. He's been doing that forever. So of course, he's ruffled feathers along the way and he has his oppponents. And those opponents have been waiting for a chance to kick him off the air. And that's what this was. I believe this was a personal attack on Imus. While I do not believe there was any malice on Imus' part, there has been plenty of malice on these critics. And I think they don't have the whole story.
Now I am not one of these First Amendment advocates. I don't believe in free speech no matter what. Without a doubt, I was very offended by Imus' and Bernard McGuirk's (the show's producer) comments. Calling those young women "ho's" was stupid and insensitive. He deserved to be suspended from the show and people should have been offended.
But even if the firing was inevitable, other people are conducting themselves far worse than Imus. MSNBC (who has no ratings aside from Imus' show anyway) and CBS radio proved they have no class. Today and tomorrow, WFAN radio (the NY sports radio station Imus broadcasts on and I listen to religiously) is running their annual Radiothon to benefit the Tomorrow Children's Fund and the CJ Foundation for SIDS. Over the last 18 years, this event has raised over 50 million dollars. And the networks both fired Imus DURING the radiothon. They didn't wait until after the fundraiser. They hindered the potential of this event and fired him as soon as they could to serve their own agenda which was looking good to the public.
And what's the reason they give for the firing? The networks claimed they were offended by the comments and the content and they could not allow that to be broadcast to America. If you believe that, I have some ocean front property in Detroit I can sell you. They fired Imus because sponsors were pulling out and they feared they would lose money. It was about money and image. This had ZERO to do with concern for these young women or race or gender.
Now onto these "almighty activists." And I'm going to focus on Al Sharpton. This guy needs to just go away. As soon as the remarks were made, he immediately said he would never go on Imus's show again. Turns out Sharpton is hosting a show on satellite radio. Two days later, he has Imus on. What a hypocritcal thing to do. He got Imus in his own environment so he could rip him. If he and Jackson and Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey and all these people don't call for a firing, they look like sellouts to the black community. They care about themselves and hide behind God, peace on earth, and race relations to make themselves look good. Where were these people making a stand against drugs, hardcore rap music, and gangs? Apparently those are fine? Intent doesn't matter? I think it does.
I ask you: if Howard Stern, who is insulting by nature, had said this, would he have even gotten punished? A fine? A suspension. You'll have a hard time convincing me he would have been reprimanded in any way. Because that is what is expected out of him. So to me, while the message was a huge factor, it was not the only factor. The person who says something is almost as important, if not as important, as the words that are said. Because I've heard other public figures say far worse things about certain races, religions, backgrounds, etc. and not even get a slap on the wrist.
And I hope Don Imus hosts a radio show again in the future. That's my opinion.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
What's with this weather?
Talk about a cold spell. It's supposed to stay in the 40's through next Friday. We'll see how many more high school games get cancelled. At least I get a few more free nights out of this.
Well, it's Easter weekend. Went to two good Friday services yesterday, one at Willow Creek and one at Wheaton Bible. The former was very dark, lit only by candles. It was very visual in terms of images (They showed various stills of scenes leading up to the crucifixion and read a lot of Scripture). Tomorrow, I am serving at Willow. I believe I'm ushering but I don't know for sure. I do know it includes a really good buffet for the volunteers afterwards. Volleyball is off for this week and then it's Ecclesia tomorrow night.
I've started to re-read "The Life You've Always Wanted." I'm an avid John Ortberg fan and I think I need to get back to reading some of the books I haven't paid enough attention to as of late.
The Mets have outscored their opponents 30-3 over the first four games of the season. Now today we're pitching Tom Glavine against John Smoltz. I'll take a loss here, as long as we win tomorrow, win this series, and head back to New York for the home opener with a 5-1 record and in first place in the NL East.
Well, it's Easter weekend. Went to two good Friday services yesterday, one at Willow Creek and one at Wheaton Bible. The former was very dark, lit only by candles. It was very visual in terms of images (They showed various stills of scenes leading up to the crucifixion and read a lot of Scripture). Tomorrow, I am serving at Willow. I believe I'm ushering but I don't know for sure. I do know it includes a really good buffet for the volunteers afterwards. Volleyball is off for this week and then it's Ecclesia tomorrow night.
I've started to re-read "The Life You've Always Wanted." I'm an avid John Ortberg fan and I think I need to get back to reading some of the books I haven't paid enough attention to as of late.
The Mets have outscored their opponents 30-3 over the first four games of the season. Now today we're pitching Tom Glavine against John Smoltz. I'll take a loss here, as long as we win tomorrow, win this series, and head back to New York for the home opener with a 5-1 record and in first place in the NL East.
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