Is there anything left to hang a hat on?

Such a long time between blogs, I feel awful.  Anyway, I have a couple things I need to gripe about.  First gripe is about this whole Lebron James-Cleveland Cavaliers thing.  It seems like the NBA is going full force with security just to keep Lebron James protected from overzealous, angry Clevelanders who are bitter about a man who just decided to transfer cities for a better opportunity at success in his profession.  Where I come from, we call that moving on up.  The Jeffersons did it, and they were alright.  Look, I'm not cool with the whole hour-long decision thing he did to announce his intentions.  However, I don't care in the long run.  It's just a sport.  It's a game, people.  I transferred from one school to another, and to my knowledge, the school I left didn't burn things of mine in misery.  Please people, remember that when it's all said and done, it's just a game.  He's an adult, he can do what he wants with his life.  Next, this whole Cam Newton thing.  Basically, the NCAA says that Cam Newton did not know that his father was trying to get money from a school for Cam's football services.  Let me say this again, a guy didn't know that his FATHER was trying to get MONEY for his services.  Now, Reggie Bush was found guilty of this same thing.  His family got new cars and a nice house from an agent.  The NCAA believed Bush knew about this and punished his college by taking their championship and not allowing them to play in post-season bowl games and conference championships when PAC-10 goes to 12 teams.  There is a simple reason why Cam Newton's allowed to play despite this whole money mess.  The reason is a small little religious school in Fort Worth, Texas called Texas Christian University, TCU to its friends.  TCU basically sits 3rd in the BCS and if Auburn loses, there's a pretty real chance that TCU would get bumped up to play for the national championship.  The BCS cannot have that. That would put a monkey wrench in the whole BCS process, which is basically to stomp down the 5 conferences that are not in the BCS coalition.  Auburn would have a much better chance of losing if Cam Newton didn't play this Saturday against my beloved South Carolina Gamecocks.  So, the best solution is to hold out until just after the BCS championship game to really punish Newton.  By that time, they would have already played Oregon and TCU would have been just another Rose Bowl winner.  So this Saturday, do me a favor America.  Cheer for South Carolina like you've never cheered for anything in your life.  And outside of a few of my friends, get crazy for Oregon State.  Throw all your energy into the Beavers beating the Ducks.  No offense to my Auburn or Oregon fans, but I want the BCS to be accountable.  The best way to make them accountable is to test their mettle.  See if they really will put TCU in the national title game.  Another thing, Gordon Gee, president of Ohio State.  Next time you insult a school, make sure you know what you're talking about.  You said that Boise State and TCU have weak schedules compared to Ohio State and others, so they don't deserve to be in title games.  If strength of schedule was really a big deal, Washington would be the toughest team in the country.  Boise State's schedule is actually tougher than Ohio State's and Wisconsin's.  TCU's isn't that much behind Wisconsin's.  Look for the Sagarin ratings if you don't believe me.  Truth be told, sports brings out a lot of emotions.  I hate when people take the sport out of sports and turn it into some kind of underhanded, lowballing of others.  Let things goes.  Let people change jobs.  Let little schools have their chance at the big stage.  Butler didn't hurt anybody being in the championship.  They proved they were as good as anyone.  And if someone does something wrong, call them on it.  Don't hold off just to keep your agenda flowing.  Go Gamecocks.

Do I Really Count?

Tomorrow is an important day in our country.  Tomorrow we go to the polls to select midterm senators and congressmen.  There seems to be this notion that it is my civic duty to vote.  I have a question though.  If I don't believe in the candidates, do I still have the civic duty?  I watch all these commercials for the candidates and it's nothing but, "this guy will do this to you" or "this guy likes Obama".  I haven't heard one advertisement about what the candidate WILL do for me.  It's all what the other is going to DO TO me.  I'm sick of the backstabbing, mudslinging, and trash talk that comes from election time.  How about, "hey I'm sorry things are bad, I'll do my best to make them better" and leave it at that.  Not only that, but the system is so flawed.  Particularly the presidential election.  I'm not Democrat or Republican, I'm Tyrone.  I do however think that Al Gore got cheated out of the presidency.  Not because of the whole Florida, hanging chad, whatever.  I think it was because Gore had more votes than Bush.  Yes I know that's going to upset my Republican friends, but that's the truth.  When I watch a basketball game, the team with the most points wins.  When I play Scrabble, I win if I score more points.  Doesn't matter about the length of a word or the exotic nature of a word.  It's only about scoring points.  However in the presidential election, it's all about the electoral process.  That's a silly thing to base things off of, in my opinion.  If you're not familiar, you basically get however many votes equal to the amount of representatives you have in Congress.  Some states have more electoral votes or representatives than others.  I think they should do away with the electoral college altogether and go with "the most votes wins".  That would make life a lot easier.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do tomorrow as far as voting.  I have an issue with the candidates running.  I have an issue with how they conduct business.  I have an issue with how they completely ignore standards and decency.  If they want me to support them and their cause, they'd better have something better than, "I'm not this guy, he's a jerk."  If I want mudslinging and trash talk, I'd watch wrestling.  Oh wait, isn't one of the candidates a former CEO of a major wrestling promotion? 

Is It Really That Bad?

So I decided to rant on something today, but had no idea what.  I posted a status message on facebook, but none of you bothered to give me ideas.  One person did, and it was actually worth talking about so here I go.  There seems to be this whole issue about illegal immigration in our country.  It's a pretty polarizing topic, surprisingly.  You see you have one set of people that believe that we should just let anyone come into our country.  That was the original premise for our country.  Ellis Island was created for the soul purpose of bringing in the tired, hungry, weak, and downtrodden to a new land.  If those people knew then, what we knew now...I don't think they'd come as often.  Let's just be honest, the biggest thing about illegal immigration isn't really the whole morality of trespassing.  It comes down to money and racism.  I'll go on the money rant first.  Apparently there is this general misconception that illegal immigrants take jobs from people.  If that isn't the biggest bunch of malarkey I've ever heard, I don't know what is.  Look, most of the "jobs" that are being taken by illegals are menial tasks that no one was really in a hurry to get anyway.  How many of you have been pining for a job picking fruits from an orchard?  Raise your hand if you've been dying to mop the floor at the McDonald's that you just got your last meal from.  Look, let's be real, the job isn't the problem.  So it comes down to racism.  Now I know that racism is a dirty word and most people would rather not be associated with it.  Let's just get it out there, what is the main people group we associate with illegal immigration?  Nine out of ten of you probably said Latino.  The other person said "Mexican".  It's gotten to the point that Arizona was wanting to pass a law that basically said that if any person looks to be of Latino decent, they can be checked for legality.  Not German, not French, not even Arab, Latino.  There are facebook groups that basically say, "I shouldn't have to press such and such for English, I'm in America."  That's kind of trivial if you ask me.  You should be more upset that you're on hold for 47 minutes and every person you talk to in the phone web is named "Peggy".  Yeah I stole that from a commercial, but whatever.  Now, before I get into my serious rant, I just want to preface this by saying that if you are not American and are here illegally, you're in the wrong.  There is paperwork to do, and there is a test to take if you want the benefits of being an American citizen and you should do all you can to obtain it.  Trust me folks, it's not that hard.  Now, to the rest of you, get over it guys.  Outside of a couple of folks, most of the illegals are just squatting at worst.  The people that keep them here are the supervisors that hire them for peanuts (in our standards).  If the supervisors can find cheap labor, why risk it?  According to them, it's about making money.  If you really want them gone, take the menial jobs that they're doing.  Take the cheap labor instead of stealing unemployment and spending it on new Nikes for your 1 month old.  Like I said, the Statue of Liberty promotes people who are in down times and people coming from most countries are in down times.  We're one of the wealthiest nations in the world, they want a piece of the pie.  The least we could do is a) help them get legal citizenship b) love them and pray for them and c) quit labeling all Latinos as illegals.  You're not doing us any favors.  Part of the reason that they are staying in the country is to spite us.  Let's be real, if a bunch of hateful people tell you this and that, you're going to want to spite them too.  I'm really tired of the holier than thou attitude that some people have about "their country" when it comes to Hispanics wanting to do what every person's ancestors wanted back in the olden days, prosper in America.  However that whole "their country" goes out the window when the president that was elected to lead the country gets mocked and persecuted (on both the left and right, it's all the same really) at the slightest deviation from their beliefs.  Like I said, I love America but it disappoints me with how they treat those that want to experience what we Americans have been blessed with.  Help them get into America legally instead of trying to build a giant fence to keep them out forever.

Be Careful What You Wish For

I know it's been a while since I last posted a blog, but nothing's really been on my mind lately.  That is until this weekend.  There seems to be some sort of idea that Obama may start taking steps (if he hasn't already) to repeal the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy in the military.  For those not familiar with it, it basically states that if a homosexual joins the military, his fellow soldiers cannot ask him if he/she prefers the same gender and they don't have to tell you if it is asked.  Basically, it's to keep homosexuals from being harassed and mocked by their fellow soldiers.  Now I have to say this before I get started, if a person feels compelled to join the military no matter their race, gender, sexual preference, shoe size, favorite television show, or any other thing that could be ridiculed, that is their business.  In fact, I salute you for making that ultimate sacrifice to defend my country.  I don't think that a person who loves their country should feel compelled to not join for fear of ridicule.  Those that mock others have no business joining the military.  In fact, you should be ashamed of yourself because those that you mock are the people you are defending.  If you can't respect someone enough to respect them for who they are and what their choices might be, then I suggest not defending my country, because you certainly don't love my country.  My country is full of every kind of person imaginable.  To mock one aspect of my country is to mock all of my country.  Jerry Springer has a point when he says that people on his show are America, better or worse, they are America.  Now, to the homosexual people out there.  Like I said, I respect you for wanting to honor my country.  I respect you for wanting to be a part of the greatest fighting force in the history of the world.  However, although a lot of people read my blog, not enough have influence to change an entire culture.  If DADT gets repealed, that gives those with no class or ethics free range to harass you.  Do you really want that?  I mean, you can go and report them to a commanding officer, but you're taking a risk of being considered a snitch or a crybaby.  That in turn gives those people more ammunition to mess with you more.  Look, I know you're not going to prance on the battlefields with a tutu or kiss the first thing you see in a shower.  However, you are going to give some people the creeps.  Those people aren't nearly as intelligent as need be to handle that kind of thing.  And what about a commanding officer.  If they find out that there are a few homosexuals, you may find yourself in more peril than you bargained for.  They may throw you on the front lines like they did to the black people on South Park.  I know that's a television show, but work with me here.  Point being, you're asking for a whole heap of trouble when you ask for people to change their entire philosophy overnight.  It takes a little time and education to understand what you're thinking or going through.  Now I know that you'll give me examples of some military people who are accepting, but I'm not talking about some.  I'm talking about the culture.  You will be offended by conversation.  And if they are in fear of talking because you're in the room, welcome to the isolated life.  Like I said, I have no problem with you wanting to fight for my country.  I love America and want everyone within its borders to love it too.  However, you're asking for a lot of people to do a heavy thing simply because you're not comfortable.  I don't drink.  However if I go to a baseball stadium and raise holy heck because there's beer being served, what does that do to me?  I'll get pelted with items, including the beer I don't drink, and ran out of the stadium.  I can't tell an entire baseball stadium to stop drinking because I don't do it.  I simply sit down, watch the game, and outsmart the drunk people for foul balls.  So maybe you should think about what you're asking for when you ask Obama to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".  Realize that it could open up a whole new can of worms that you thought wouldn't be opened.

Touchy Subject? Maybe

So I was watching Glee last night and couldn't help but get enthralled by the subject.  If you didn't, I'll recap as best I can.  Kurt, the gay kid, goes through a bad time when his father has a heart attack and is left in a coma.  Some of his glee club friends tell him that they're praying for his dad.  Kurt doesn't believe in God because of His people.  Surely a blemish on our Christian record as well as a pretty sad commentary on how Christians are viewed by the outside world.  Throughout the episode a bit of a schism comes into play.  Kurt believes everyone is "forcing religion" onto him when he just wants his dad back.  Everyone else thinks Kurt's being "evasive and isolated."  The athiests that watched the show will probably side with Kurt in this battle.  People of faith will be more inspired by how open some of the cast members were about their faith.  I had a day to stew over the episode.  I think Christians should have a better testimony for those who don't believe in God.  You have to make a way to get people that don't know Christ to understand what Christ is about.  That means not going to military funerals with "God Hates Fags" signs.  That means having respect for people that don't look like you.  The KKK have made a mockery of God by saying they're doing God's work by eliminating blacks and Jews.  I'm not saying you do wrong and accept things.  I'm just saying respect other people and love them like Jesus loves us.  It's the least we can do to share Jesus' love with everyone else.  The Jesus I know wouldn't throw a kid out of church for having an earring in his lip or a tattoo on his neck.  Jesus would ask what the tattoos mean and ask how much it hurt.  You athiests aren't excused either.  If you really are as open minded and tolerant as you say you are, when will you go a day without finding something wrong with a Christian or a Republican?  I thought open mindedness meant that you listened to all explanations before developing an opinion.  I love my Lord more than anything.  However part of loving your Lord is loving other people and treating them with respect.  And if you see Jesus in your grilled cheese sandwich, don't ask for weird things like it's a genie.  It's just a funny shaped grilled cheese sandwich.

Sometimes It's the Right Card to Play

This is 2010.  At this point in our country's brief history, we should be above a lot of things.  Two years ago, we voted in our very first African American president.  A few years before that, we had the first ever Super Bowl between two African American coaches.  We've been blessed to have a lot of things happen to one of the most oppressed groups of people in history.  African Americans have been the subject to a lot of ridicule and strife.  Far more than I will ever know since I haven't lived in the harsh parts.  However it's a fact that racism still plays a part in a lot more than we're willing to admit.  This new law in Arizona that basically said that "if you look hispanic, your immigration status will be verified."  That's racism in it's purest form really.

That's not really what I want to talk about.  I want to talk about this thing going on in Miami.  Recently, LeBron James and his business manager have both said that race played a role in the backlash LeBron got for leaving Cleveland and going to Miami to play basketball.  Notice he said that "it played a role" not that it was the underlying reason.  I'm sure he understood that making a television show about which team he was going to play for was kind of over the top.  I'm sure he gets the fact that he broke the heart of all of Cleveland, Ohio that night.  However I don't think he expected this much flack for it.  Seems like it's a pretty valid idea.  If you look at the Q scores, LeBron is now one of the six most hated athletes.  Along with Michael Vick, Tiger Woods, Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco, and Kobe Bryant.  Notice that the six most hated athletes are all African Americans.  Three of them have NEVER been accosted for crimes at all.  One was in prison, so I get that.  One was accused of rape but never saw trial.  What baffles me is that Brett Favre (who is still my favorite athlete despite playing for the worst team ever) has done what LeBron has done 3 times in three years, waffling between playing and not playing for a certain team.  What baffles me is that Ben Roethlisberger has put himself in harm's way with women twice and isn't in the top 6.  Roger Clemens, who pretty much cheated at baseball isn't among the top 6, but LeBron is?  It makes no sense to me.  Terrell Owens' biggest crime was answering a question the media asks of him about his quarterback, yet he's more hated than an alleged rapist?  Tiger Woods' biggest crime was cheating on his wife, is that worse than cheating at in a sport that values integrity and honesty over statistics (see Pete Rose)?  Look, I know that racism is somewhat fading away, but it's still very prevalent.  Always has been, and always will be.  I have seen multiple people on my facebook friends list join the group: "Dear Lord, This year you took my favorite actor, Patrick Swayze. You took my favorite actress, Farrah Fawcett. You took my favorite singer, Michael Jackson. I just wanted to let you know, my favorite president is Barack Obama. Amen."  I don't think there has ever been this much backlash for a president, not even George W. Bush.  That's not a coincidence, my friends.  Like I said, I'm not saying that everyone hates Obama simply because he's black.  There are a lot more groups opposing a president than ever before.  And racism isn't just delegated to politics and negatives.  There are a lot of people that commit reverse racism.  That is to basically assume that because something is said or done, a person has to be offended by it and they must stop the injustice.  I think of that situation with Don Imus and the Rutgers women's basketball team.  Now I'm not condoning what Imus did, but people took his comment way out of proportion.  Honestly, when I first heard it, he delivered it in a pretty funny way.  People jumped all over him and called him the worst racist ever.  I don't think he was trying to be racist.  He just said a line that was more crude than racist.  Basically, people are telling other people that they should be offended by what other says.  Don't tell me how to feel.  If I want to be offended, I'll do it myself.  Point being, we have a long way before we can consider our country enlightened and intelligent.  If you really want racism to stop, go about it scientifically.  Science proves that there is only one color, just the amount of melanin added to that color.  It's Kool-Aid and sugar.  The more sugar that's in it, the sweeter it is.  The more melanin in a person, the darker they are.  Or you can look at it biblically, God loves all and wants all in Heaven.  Just look at each other as people who need love, care, guidance.  Not people who need protection, special rights, and facebook groups wishing death upon them.

I've Been Thinking...I Know, Bad Idea

It's been a while since I've posted a blog.  Sorry about that, it's just been a busy and hectic life I've lived over the past few weeks and this had to take a backseat.  People tell me how amused or inspired they are by my blogs and that humbles me.  To think that people from many walks of life look at my blog and enjoy what I have to say is truly eye-opening.  So I'll try my best to be a little more active in doing this blog.

I'm kind of sick of politics.  I'm not a genius about the subject, don't get me wrong.  However, I am a human being and I have an opinion.  That alone allows me to chime in on the subject.  First of all, I have an issue with the politicians.  It's not a big issue.  Their job is to make promises that may or may not come true to convince you to vote for them.  And of course they filter what they want to say based on their audience.  Doesn't bother me too much because I don't really listen to lip service.  At least not on purpose.  My big deal is with the "news" stations. This morning I turned on some morning news because a) I like Morning Joe because Joe Scarborough is a funny dude and b) Fox News is a couple of channels down, so it's good to go right near by a differing view.  However today, both channels shared a similar clip about a political candidate (name slips my mind) confronting a journalist about a story.  Fox defended the politician because he was a Republican.  MSNBC defended the journalist because the politician was a Republican.  Let's call a spade a spade, two immature, middle aged men are arguing in public and making fools of themselves.  What happened to that part of news coverage.  There's also a big huhbub about a lady who won the Republican primary in Delaware.  O'Donnell I think her name is...anyway, some news places are just ripping this girl apart because she doesn't say what she should and isn't like all the other Republicans.  But weren't people complaining about the Republicans being the same person every year?  Now someone is different and they rip her apart for not being like everyone else.  Make up your minds people.  Oh, and just a heads up, she won the primary, so she must be appealing to SOMEONE, and more of those someones voted for her than not.  Call the elections like they are and nothing else.  Stop giving me an opinion and give me facts.  I miss facts in the news.