I read today a good column by Carl Cannon in Politics Daily about how George W. Bush was right, for sure, on one thing---coming out strongly, even in a State of the Union message in 2004, against steroids and urging the federal ban of their use. Cannon points out, which I knew but had forgotten, that W. was once a serious contender to be Commissioner of Baseball. With his love of the game, he would have been ideal for that job, which is not something I can say about his most recent job.
All of which leads me to my main point: the hypocrisy inherent in the management structure of our major sports. Baseball knew about---and ignored---the steroids scandal until it came back to bite them after Federal law pushed them into doing something about it. A record book to be filled with asterisks is hardly to be desired. Cannon notes that 1000 less home runs were hit this year than in the prime of the steroid days. Duh, I wonder why...
How about that paragon of moral; virtue, the N.F.L.? In all their ads and films they emphasize the power of explosive hitting: the sound effects of those Steve Sobol films of pads smashing into each other with gladiator violence. Now they backtrack and are offering guidelines for uncontrolled helmet butting and stiff fines for flagrant abuse. Duh, about time?
Boxing, horse racing, swimming, bicycle races all have their share of abuse scandals to the point that they have been severely tarnished by drugs and sometimes viewed as "fixed".
Betting scandals abound in many sports: point shaving in basketball, as well as abuse problems; tennis even has a betting scandal.
One of the "cleanest" sports, in terms of scandal is golf, excluding the Tiger Woods scandal (which is the problem of an individual and not the sport). Why is golf relatively squeaky clean? Because they have had hard and fast rules of conduct and behaviour for many years which they assiduously maintain.
Consistency, rules, codes of conduct are permanent virtues which need to be maintained in all sports and not subject to the whims and greed of owners or participants. I know sports is big business, but, for God's sake, it's still a game. And you play games by the rules.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
ONCE A PARENT, ALWAYS A PARENT
It's been a rough few weeks, what with my youngest of three daughters sustaining a bad concussion, multiple stitches, hematomas and bruises from a bike accident while training for a triathalon and my middle daughter about to have a hysterectomy. The eldest daughter is fine, I'm happy to report!
The youngest one is a great athlete in fabulous condition. She entered one of these triathalons (not the Iron man variety but shorter forms) earlier this year after not having done one in a year or so---and she won her age division and finished the second woman in the race by less than thirty seconds. Not bad for a 45 year old, eh?
It is really frustrating watching her try to stay at rest, she is so hyperactive, but she is learning that recovering from a concussion takes a lot of time and patience. It happened three weeks ago, and she still gets headaches, although their frequency and intensity have waned. We visited her on the east coast of Florida for the first time for five days and had a wonderful visit. She had asked us to wait to see her until she felt she could have a good visit. She has two teen-age sons involved in a host of sports and activities, so she is a "soccer mom" plus, which makes it all the harder for her to stay still.
Now my wife and I have a four-day break and then head Saturday for Atlanta where the middle daughter will have surgery on November 3. Today, I understand, they do these operations arthroscopically, or keyhole surgery, through the abdomen, but she still will have to take it easy for a few days. She lives in a town house with three flights, so we want to keep her from using the stairs as much as possible. We'll be with her until Nov. 11. She's also very fit, so I'm sure she'll do fine.
As a friend of mine said, "Parenting never ends!" We should just be grateful they are still here.
The youngest one is a great athlete in fabulous condition. She entered one of these triathalons (not the Iron man variety but shorter forms) earlier this year after not having done one in a year or so---and she won her age division and finished the second woman in the race by less than thirty seconds. Not bad for a 45 year old, eh?
It is really frustrating watching her try to stay at rest, she is so hyperactive, but she is learning that recovering from a concussion takes a lot of time and patience. It happened three weeks ago, and she still gets headaches, although their frequency and intensity have waned. We visited her on the east coast of Florida for the first time for five days and had a wonderful visit. She had asked us to wait to see her until she felt she could have a good visit. She has two teen-age sons involved in a host of sports and activities, so she is a "soccer mom" plus, which makes it all the harder for her to stay still.
Now my wife and I have a four-day break and then head Saturday for Atlanta where the middle daughter will have surgery on November 3. Today, I understand, they do these operations arthroscopically, or keyhole surgery, through the abdomen, but she still will have to take it easy for a few days. She lives in a town house with three flights, so we want to keep her from using the stairs as much as possible. We'll be with her until Nov. 11. She's also very fit, so I'm sure she'll do fine.
As a friend of mine said, "Parenting never ends!" We should just be grateful they are still here.
Monday, October 18, 2010
A SPORTS COMMENTARY UPDATE
Well, sports fan, it's been awhile since I commented on the sports scene, so here goes:
(1) My Buckeyes got a real butt kicking from Wisconsin---and deservedly so. It goes without saying, when you're number one, everyone is up for you, but great teams still surmount that problem. Ohio State just wasn't ready. Mr. Pryor and the boys better get back to fundamentals.
(2) Big Ben made a fantastic debut after all the hullabaloo and had a fine game. I don't need to comment further because my old friend Grumpy will probably devote the next week or more of blogs to the Steelers' success and Big Ben's redemption in their win over my hapless Browns. At least, in time, we Brownies may have a quarterback in Colt McCoy.
(3) I know Boise State is good---but that good?
(4) I'm still wearing a black armband for my Cincinnati Reds. Actually pitching with an average E.R.A. of 2.5 for the series was not bad, but the Phillies' arms were just too much (1.33.ERA). Especially Roy Halliday!
(5) Bold prediction: the Phillies will beat the Yankees in the World Series, assuming they get by that Giant pitching.
(6) My heart went out to Hunter Mahan and his grieving tears when he lost the deciding match of the Ryder Cup. a close-but-no-cigar rally by the Americans. Parity has also struck golf.
(7) Tiger Woods at least showed he was alive in the Ryder Cup, but he still has a long way to go psychologically, plus I think he needs the steadying influence of a swing coach.
(8) The young lions are beginning to come on in tennis to challenge Rafa Nadal, and Roger Federer's best moments are behind him. He still, on a given day, can play tough, but the depth of young talent is impressive.
(9) Watch out for Juan Del Potro, the Argentine 2009 U.S. Open Tennis Champion who missed this year due to wrist surgery but is about ready to come back---a real talent there and 6'7", to boot. Also watch our two young giants, John Isner (6'9") and Sam Querrey (6'7").
(10) I'm still fed up with King James (LeBron, of course!) and his bullshit ego. I wonder how the Miami Heat will deal with three primadonnas.
That's a wrap, sports fans!
(1) My Buckeyes got a real butt kicking from Wisconsin---and deservedly so. It goes without saying, when you're number one, everyone is up for you, but great teams still surmount that problem. Ohio State just wasn't ready. Mr. Pryor and the boys better get back to fundamentals.
(2) Big Ben made a fantastic debut after all the hullabaloo and had a fine game. I don't need to comment further because my old friend Grumpy will probably devote the next week or more of blogs to the Steelers' success and Big Ben's redemption in their win over my hapless Browns. At least, in time, we Brownies may have a quarterback in Colt McCoy.
(3) I know Boise State is good---but that good?
(4) I'm still wearing a black armband for my Cincinnati Reds. Actually pitching with an average E.R.A. of 2.5 for the series was not bad, but the Phillies' arms were just too much (1.33.ERA). Especially Roy Halliday!
(5) Bold prediction: the Phillies will beat the Yankees in the World Series, assuming they get by that Giant pitching.
(6) My heart went out to Hunter Mahan and his grieving tears when he lost the deciding match of the Ryder Cup. a close-but-no-cigar rally by the Americans. Parity has also struck golf.
(7) Tiger Woods at least showed he was alive in the Ryder Cup, but he still has a long way to go psychologically, plus I think he needs the steadying influence of a swing coach.
(8) The young lions are beginning to come on in tennis to challenge Rafa Nadal, and Roger Federer's best moments are behind him. He still, on a given day, can play tough, but the depth of young talent is impressive.
(9) Watch out for Juan Del Potro, the Argentine 2009 U.S. Open Tennis Champion who missed this year due to wrist surgery but is about ready to come back---a real talent there and 6'7", to boot. Also watch our two young giants, John Isner (6'9") and Sam Querrey (6'7").
(10) I'm still fed up with King James (LeBron, of course!) and his bullshit ego. I wonder how the Miami Heat will deal with three primadonnas.
That's a wrap, sports fans!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
REVISE, REPEAL, MEND OR BEND?
The above title contains the catchwords of today in regard to Obamacare or the new health care bill. Do we change the bill or get rid of it; do we try to fix the flaws or start all over? It is obvious that the subject of health care is a major concern in the upcoming elections.
I was for some kind of health care program and didn't care if the far right labeled me a wild-eyed pinko socialist. For years I kept getting stuck on the fact that the number one industrial power in the world was the only major nation without a health plan. On the other side of the coin, I was not happy with the congressional compromises, tinkering and end result of the plan that passed. In an earlier blog I used the old saw to describe the healthcare bill as a camel---a horse designed by a committee.
I still think the answer lies in NOT throwing out the whole bill but for a truly bipartisan committee to take the time to break it down, piece by piece, to remedy the defects in the bill. I have enough of the fiscal conservative in me to be suspicious of the efficiency (or lack thereof) of governmental-run programs. If certain aspects of a new health care program can be done better by state and/or local governments, so much the better.
I recently read an article by Sally Pipes, President and C.E.O. of the Pacific Research Institute, decrying the future prohibitive cost of the new health plan. She points out that the new bill creates 47 new bureaucratic entities and 20 pilot programs. In the course of the article she notes that the Principal Financial Group (from whom I receive a small pension each month) is dropping out of the health insurance market where they service 800,000 customers because of the projected cost of the new plan. Principal Financial Group are not small potatoes. She also mentions that by 2013 117,000,000 will have new health care plans and that the Congressional Budget Office believes that health care costs will rise 10-13%. Objectively, I must point out that Mrs. Pipes is not a fan of "socialized medicine" in any form, which doubtless colors her viewpoint.
It would appear, unless a political miracle occurs in the next three weeks, that the Republicans are going to make massive gains in congress and, quite possibly, control the House of Represntatives. I will be relieved when this mudslinging, innuendo-filled, filthy time of campaigning is over and hope, once the election is finished, that congress and the administration can begin to communicate in a civil and rational manner to prioritize some of our urgent needs, among which is health care and a workable plan.
Revise, repeal. mend or bend: just sit down and converse to make bipartisanship work for the national interest. And proper health care is really in the national interest.
I was for some kind of health care program and didn't care if the far right labeled me a wild-eyed pinko socialist. For years I kept getting stuck on the fact that the number one industrial power in the world was the only major nation without a health plan. On the other side of the coin, I was not happy with the congressional compromises, tinkering and end result of the plan that passed. In an earlier blog I used the old saw to describe the healthcare bill as a camel---a horse designed by a committee.
I still think the answer lies in NOT throwing out the whole bill but for a truly bipartisan committee to take the time to break it down, piece by piece, to remedy the defects in the bill. I have enough of the fiscal conservative in me to be suspicious of the efficiency (or lack thereof) of governmental-run programs. If certain aspects of a new health care program can be done better by state and/or local governments, so much the better.
I recently read an article by Sally Pipes, President and C.E.O. of the Pacific Research Institute, decrying the future prohibitive cost of the new health plan. She points out that the new bill creates 47 new bureaucratic entities and 20 pilot programs. In the course of the article she notes that the Principal Financial Group (from whom I receive a small pension each month) is dropping out of the health insurance market where they service 800,000 customers because of the projected cost of the new plan. Principal Financial Group are not small potatoes. She also mentions that by 2013 117,000,000 will have new health care plans and that the Congressional Budget Office believes that health care costs will rise 10-13%. Objectively, I must point out that Mrs. Pipes is not a fan of "socialized medicine" in any form, which doubtless colors her viewpoint.
It would appear, unless a political miracle occurs in the next three weeks, that the Republicans are going to make massive gains in congress and, quite possibly, control the House of Represntatives. I will be relieved when this mudslinging, innuendo-filled, filthy time of campaigning is over and hope, once the election is finished, that congress and the administration can begin to communicate in a civil and rational manner to prioritize some of our urgent needs, among which is health care and a workable plan.
Revise, repeal. mend or bend: just sit down and converse to make bipartisanship work for the national interest. And proper health care is really in the national interest.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
I'VE HEARD THIS SONG BEFORE
And the beat goes on...
Senator Richard Shelby (R., Alabama), in his infinite downSouth wisdom, is blocking the nomination of Peter Diamond,, a Nobel laureate from M.I.T., to the board of the Federal Reserve.
He made a brilliant explanation to the effect that the Royal Academy of Science in Sweden, the selector of the Nobel Prize, does not determine who is qualified for the board of governors of the Federal Reserve. Great logic, Dick: a Nobel Prize, in your view, is chopped liver?
Peter Diamond won his Nobel for theories on the causes of joblessness. In this harsh economic climate with 9.6% unemployment, is this professor irrelevant? Are brains irrelevant or unneeded on the Federal Reserve?
It's more partisan posturing from the G.O.P.. who currently are strutting their best preening stuff in partisan obstructionism when the country needs bipartisan cooperation to solve our many economic problems. I'm sure Peter Diamond will be confirmed, but a man of his intellectual qualifications doesn't need this nonsense.
We know what you're against--but what are you for, besides being for throwing Obama out. Senator Shelby and a gaggle of other G.O.P. geese--- for shame!
Senator Richard Shelby (R., Alabama), in his infinite downSouth wisdom, is blocking the nomination of Peter Diamond,, a Nobel laureate from M.I.T., to the board of the Federal Reserve.
He made a brilliant explanation to the effect that the Royal Academy of Science in Sweden, the selector of the Nobel Prize, does not determine who is qualified for the board of governors of the Federal Reserve. Great logic, Dick: a Nobel Prize, in your view, is chopped liver?
Peter Diamond won his Nobel for theories on the causes of joblessness. In this harsh economic climate with 9.6% unemployment, is this professor irrelevant? Are brains irrelevant or unneeded on the Federal Reserve?
It's more partisan posturing from the G.O.P.. who currently are strutting their best preening stuff in partisan obstructionism when the country needs bipartisan cooperation to solve our many economic problems. I'm sure Peter Diamond will be confirmed, but a man of his intellectual qualifications doesn't need this nonsense.
We know what you're against--but what are you for, besides being for throwing Obama out. Senator Shelby and a gaggle of other G.O.P. geese--- for shame!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
EN GARDE! DANGER AHEAD!
In a recent blog, I told how some hacker got into my bank account, most likely through my debit card, and nailed me for $5000.00. I'm in the process of getting my money back, but what a pain in the butt this whole process of regaining the funds and changing all my auto payments and legitimate debit card expenses can be. Everything from social security and annuities' deposits to utilities and insurance payments by debit had to be changed. In order to change some, you need to send a voided check---and I have not yet received my new checks with my new account and routing number. I have some temporary checks from the bank with the right account number and routing number, but some of these sources need regular checks, so I'll have to wait until my new checks arrive---very soon, I hope.
I've only been home three days and already I have heard of two other people I know who have been ripped off the same way. One is a really good guy who does a lot of repair and maintenance work for me who got "had" for $3000.00. He's sorting it out now. The other makes mine look puny: the guy who services swimming pools in our neightborhood really got nailed---for $28,000, including a college tuition! I haven't seen him yet to ask, but I would think tracing that one must have been fairly easy by finding out who the student is and checking connections from there. In my own case, since the guy bought three air tickets to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, and much of his activity was in Utah at a Krogers supermarket and HSBC, Hong Kong Shanghai Bank, the world's largest. At least, it's a start to trace him down. (I'm assuming he's a male and Arab, and Arabs usually don't let women run their finances!) I know it's not my problem now, as the bank and investigators are on it, but I'm simply curious.
We get so used to the computer and the internet that we get in a comfort zone and forget the many perils inherent in this cyberworld. There is always some crook---unfortunately, really computer-literate---who is waiting to pounce like a financial vulture on the innocent and exposed. I felt like a real dummy, but I have a lot of company.
So, my friends, be careful and cautious. We all face many dangers in this world, and computer thieves are just a new variant on an old strain.
I've only been home three days and already I have heard of two other people I know who have been ripped off the same way. One is a really good guy who does a lot of repair and maintenance work for me who got "had" for $3000.00. He's sorting it out now. The other makes mine look puny: the guy who services swimming pools in our neightborhood really got nailed---for $28,000, including a college tuition! I haven't seen him yet to ask, but I would think tracing that one must have been fairly easy by finding out who the student is and checking connections from there. In my own case, since the guy bought three air tickets to Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, and much of his activity was in Utah at a Krogers supermarket and HSBC, Hong Kong Shanghai Bank, the world's largest. At least, it's a start to trace him down. (I'm assuming he's a male and Arab, and Arabs usually don't let women run their finances!) I know it's not my problem now, as the bank and investigators are on it, but I'm simply curious.
We get so used to the computer and the internet that we get in a comfort zone and forget the many perils inherent in this cyberworld. There is always some crook---unfortunately, really computer-literate---who is waiting to pounce like a financial vulture on the innocent and exposed. I felt like a real dummy, but I have a lot of company.
So, my friends, be careful and cautious. We all face many dangers in this world, and computer thieves are just a new variant on an old strain.
Friday, October 8, 2010
"THESE ARE THE TIMES THAT TRY MEN'S SOULS."
I read in the papers this morning that certain G.O.P. congressmen are nostalgic for the good old days of Bill Clinton. Politicians' memories are about as long as their unmentionables, so I find this laughable. Would they like to go back to the glory days when they were tryimg to impeach good ole Bill?
In the same article it is speculated that the Republicans, once they get in power, will cooperate more with President Obama on key legislation like Social Security reform, education, energy amd climate change. How typical: piss all over Obama's programs when the Demos are in charge but grab the headlines and the credit when you are in power! Don't put the good of the nation first--- just make sure things don't get done until you can take the credit.
Thomas Paine was right.
In the same article it is speculated that the Republicans, once they get in power, will cooperate more with President Obama on key legislation like Social Security reform, education, energy amd climate change. How typical: piss all over Obama's programs when the Demos are in charge but grab the headlines and the credit when you are in power! Don't put the good of the nation first--- just make sure things don't get done until you can take the credit.
Thomas Paine was right.
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