More things I don't get...

I have written in this blog before that I like professional wrestling. I have since about 1980.  I have always understood that it was "fake". Even as a kid I knew that nobody could physically get beat up on a regular basis and just come back every week for more.  I can't ever remember not thinking that it was a sports soap opera.

But I don't want this to be about why I like wrestling. This is about why there are so many people who take it so seriously. One of the things I do on a daily basis is check out blogs about wrestling. For a long time it was a very enjoyable thing to do. But it is getting harder and harder to do because even though most every writer of those blogs and the people who respond to the blogs say they know that it is scripted; they get real bent out of shape when things don't go the way they think it should.

I don't know if it has gotten worse in the last year or so or I just ignored it for a long time. There have been complaints about who the WWE and Impact puts on wrestling shows more often than others. There are many complaints that the wrestler's  talk to much or too many silly skits.  And most often than not those comments are coupled with comments like, "it used to be all about wrestling, now it's more of a soap opera".

And if you try to respond and explain how it exactly is a soap opera they get real upset.  To me its just another TV show that runs weekly. Now, after watching it all these years I feel like I kind of know the characters and feel that in a way they are apart of  my life.  If wrestling was cancelled it would bother me for a little while but I would get over it.

I am definitely not the wrestling fan that will rate the matches and complain about how much talk time their is and I find the people who will criticize  you if you don't agree with them. I just don't get it. Be entertained and enjoy it for what it is.

I may have written about the following  before but I want to say I still don't get it. I read sports sites, news sites, entertainment sites and stuff like that on a daily basis. And it seems that now that most sites have sections after the stories where people can comment on the articles that there are always people who want to disagree and name call other people who responds to articles.

To me that is the person who is doing the criticizing and name calling are basically saying that they have a right to voice their opinion but if you disagree with them you don't have a right to an opinion. And that is just wrong. And I guess that is basically being a bully probably because you don't feel right about yourself. And I just don't get that.

I can cite an example of how I  believe things should be. I read a wrestling related article which was supposed to be satire but I did not find it funny. The writer asked fore comments and I left an comments saying that I didn't find it funny. Well, I guess he remembered that I had read a piece of satire from him last week and that I had left a comment that I liked it. He asked me why I didn't think it was funny and I told him why.  We had an adult like "discussion". That is how it should be in my opinion.

Can someone please explain to me why people get their eyebrows, noses, tongues, and even their  privates pierced?  And why full body tattoos and whatever you call the thing they do with their earlobes?  All of that is just unattractive and quite frankly gross to me.  I just don't understand that stuff at all. Why do people feel the need to do that stuff?  Do they have such a bad body image of themselves that they feel the need to do that stuff?

I have seen several woman who would be very attractive if they didn't do that stuff to themselves. I is very unappealing to me.

I don't get it...

Those who know me  and those who have been reading have probably figured out that there are a lot of things I don't get. (Hopefully, I got at least one smile out of that line if not a laugh)  But in the last few weeks a few things have been added to the list.

I heard on Friday that Ron Artest wants to legally change his name to Metta World Peace. For those that may not know who he is he was the NBA player who basically started a fight that was crazy and went into the stands about 10 years ago in Indianapolis. He has done some odd things before and I personally think of him as today's Dennis Rodman; goofy guys who are difficult to take seriously.

I take this news a little more seriously that I did at first because I heard Michael Wilbon on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption say that he personally knows Mr Artest and that it seems like he is on a personal spiritual journey. I admire Mr Wilbon and his opinion means something to me, so I will take what Mr Artest wants to do a little more seriously.

But I don't get changing your name for your religion or too make a point. I don't think that really accomplishes anything. I know that Muhmmamad Ali and Kareem Abdul Jabbar did the same thing but I have never really understood why.

When I have heard of someone doing this the same thing always goes through my mind: "isn't changing your name disrespecting your parents"? I don't know this for a fact but I suspect that most parents name their children what they name them for specific reasons and it just seems altering that is a disrespectful thing to do.  I have considered in the past changing my name for a couple of reasons, one is serious and I would rather not go in that here and the other would be just to get my parents and every body who calls me Robert to stop calling me that. I have told my parents I don't being called that but it hasn't changed anything and at this point I don't think it would feel right to have them call me anything else. But I would never do that out of respect for them.

I really, really don't get Chastity Bono changing her sex. In fact, I am a little offended by it actually.  I have no problem with people being gay because I believe they probably were born gay. I know some would disagree with that but that is what I believe. But changing you sex just says to me that you know better than God does and it says that you think God made you wrong. And that is just offensive to me.

Yes, I went through a stage where I thought that my being born disabled was wrong. But my thinking that way was wrong.  God made me what I am because this is the way I was meant to learn life's lessons; my body was the vessel that was chosen for me to get through this world. No I haven't taken great care of it but that I believe is part of my life's lessens.

I have been asked a few times  in the past if I could magically be able bodied would I do it? And my answer is always NO. Somewhere inside of me I have understood I am physically who I am.  And in every other way I am who I am right now but time changes everything; so my thoughts and believes  are still evolving in the way they should.

To physically change from man to woman or woman to man is just morally wrong to me. And I don't get it.

Am I saying that I know better than Ms/Mr Bono?  No, if that person thinks what was done is right, that is something they have to deal with.   I don't think I am judging but I do have a right to say I disagree, I don't understand it and my beliefs are different. And I think that is OK.

And to me that is part of the problem in this country--too many people want to impose their morals and beliefs onto others. And  in doing that problems are created.

We need to get along, accept differences and when possible calmly and rationally talk about those differences so that understanding and unity can be achieved.  This has been said before but if we were all the same wouldn't this be a boring world?

The Code???

I have no idea why this came to my mind to write about today but here it goes:

A few years ago a male friend of my stopped talking to me because I "broke the code".  Apparently, hanging about with a woman instead of him was braking the "code".

I have heard of this supposed code a couple of times before. And the  few times I have heard somebody "invoke" the code I always laugh.  I even asked this former friend of mine where this supposed code was because I have never seen it.

 I have sometimes wondered if there was a meeting back in high school or sometime around then that I missed. Or maybe it has  something to do with the "He man woman haters club" that  the Our Gang Kids came up with. Anyone who had REO Speedwagon's  "Hi Infidelity" might remember that reference.

Even if this "code" exists I doubt that I would never break it. Because I would have to be more true to my own personal code. Which includes the concept of doing what I feel is best for me to do. Yes, in my past that has led me into questionable situations but it works for me.

And if I found a friend felt that the "code" was overly important to them I would not feel totally comfortable in trusting them.

To thy ownself be true  that is the code which should be most adhered to for everyone.

Bad way to say no

If I could eliminate two phrases from the English language they would be:  "I just see you as a friend" or  "I don't see you that way".

From my own experience women seem to think these phrases are nice ways of saying no when men ask them out. I can't speak for all men but for me these are hurtful words.  To me the women might as well be saying "Hanging out with you is cool but dating?  I wouldn't be caught dead dating you."

If I had a dime for every time I have heard those words I would probably literally be a rich man by now.

The only dates I have ever been on was with my ex wife and she is  the only woman who ever pursued me.

The only time in high school when I ever felt different from the other kids was when I knew it was prom night. I asked a couple of girls to go but heard  those phrases for the first of many times.  And it was always odd and hurtful the next school day hearing about things that went on at the prom.

And a real date, not one after marrying someone would be a nice experience to have.

I remember a conversation with my Mom when we talked about how I probably wouldn't have a real relationship with a woman until I got older. I think we even talked about it being maybe in my 30's before it would happen. I got married at 26 divorced at 31 and 14 years later I have only had one other relationship and let me tell you a women who is bipolar and not on her medication is not a good situation.

I always thought that by my late 30's I would have found "Mrs. Right" but I haven't found her yet. One of the things that help keep me going and staying positive is that I really don't think it is God's intention for me or anyone to live life alone. I truly do believe there is someone for everyone, even me.   It would be nice for the wait not to take too much longer. But who knows.

I just hope that if there is another woman I ask out I hope she just says "no" if she doesn't want to. Because I also believe that "no" is a one word sentence.

Thanks Dad

I know I should have written this on Sunday but, better late than never. And before I begin, yes, I did call my Dad on Sunday.

As near as I can figure my Dad met my Mom in 1972-73.  I believe it takes a special man to marry into a situation where the woman had a disabled son who, at the time, was not able to do too much and a younger daughter. But that is what Dad did.

As far as  I know the first time I walked on crutches and braces was at their wedding in May 1974. I really don't remember that day, I have hazy little bits and pieces of it but that is all. I don't remember walking on the crutches that day but I have seen the pictures so I know that is real.

I don't have memories of being on crutches at all. I only remember using a walker instead of crutches and that is probably how most people who knew me up until my early 20's probably remember me.

What most people don't know is I used a walker instead of crutches out of fear, plain and simple.  I don't remember falling while I must have used crutches but I think its a good assumption that I must have had a bad enough fall that I refused to use crutches again. I remember a few times in my youth thinking that it was silly that I basically had to have an aluminum bar in front of me to feel safe.

It's funny but as I was writing that last paragraph I remembered a couple of therapy session where someone was trying to teach me to use crutches. Odd.

I don't know how Dad first noticed that I would hold on to cars and put my walker down to get down curbs. I don't know when he first noticed that I avoided the little, not even five inch step at the end of our walk way at home. I always bypassed it and went through the grass.

But Dad definitely noticed it. Boy, did he notice it. And one day he decided to do something about it. And one afternoon we had a little war of wills. He made me go to that step and stay there until I went down that step. I don't know how long we were there, it seemed like an eternity. I seem to remember some tears at some point. It's a funny thing about fears they make little steps into huge hills. The logical side of me knew it was a little step but the fear was greater than that step.

Eventually, I did go down that step. I think for the most part I continued to go down that step for the duration of  the time we lived there.

But a father was trying to teach his son to face his fears head on. And I think I have known that lesson but have not applied that lesson in my life as often as I should have.

But from a father who is not an emotional person. A man who I don't think expresses his emotions much. On that day that father who showed his son that he loved him and that he wanted the best for that boy.

Thank you Dad

High School Friends and Facebook

It really cool to catch up with old high school friends until the inevitable questions. What do you do? Or even worse for me, what's your job?

It's very difficult to say: I had other life lessons to learn and I spent my 20's and early 30's screwing up my life.

On one level I truly know and understand that I had to do what I had to do. I don't know if I was more hard headed than most people, but I do know that I was hard headed.

I did a lot of stupid and yes, illegal things that I should not have done because I thought I knew better. I will not lie and say I didn't enjoy a portion of what I did; because  I did.  I started life in Michigan, grew a little older in Ohio, started learning life the hard way in Ohio, had to move on to Florida, made a side trip back to Michigan before landing back in Florida.  I had some adventures along the way; up until about 10 years ago life was not boring.

It's not all boring now, I am not saying that but I believe my days of adventure are behind me.  And I am lucky I have made it to 45. Very lucky.

The good news is I learned a lot and basically like who I am today. The bad news is that there are unforeseen consequences along the way. There is some physical damage and probably some psychological damage. There are not too many friends left mainly because I don't want to go back to a certain life style. I have cut off some contact from people who are still partying.

And there are the times when I am asked what am I doing now and what about a job. This is a consequence I never thought of and it brings fear with it.

Because I wonder what will happen after I say, I spend a lot of time with my self and my job is to take things one day at a time.   It's not exciting, it's not a lot of responsibility in many ways and I don't know if I am adding anything positive into the world.  But it is my life, and I am OK with that until the questions come.

And maybe its a fault of mine but I don't want anyone to think less of me because of what it looks like I have become. Because  the outside may not look to good but I am a lot better on the inside. And I will chalk that up as a win.

Can we get away from Casey, please?

I have found  that it is pretty much impossible not to see any of the Casey Anthony trial. I don't know if that is what it is like around the country; but that is how it is here in Florida.

Maybe I'm a bit jaded but I don't get why it has gotten the massive amount of attention it gets. Please don't get me wrong the case should be covered and it has value but this trial brings me back to the OJ Simpson trial because everything about it seems to be a bit over the top.

We've got a judge who seems to me to be in a little bit over his head. We may have the sleaziest defense attorney I have ever known of in Jose Baez.. I understand that his job is to get Ms Anthony acquitted of her daughter's murder; but throwing her father and brother into the mix reeks of  desperation. And really isn't the "throw anything out there and see what sticks" plan just lazy and pathetic?

Since I am not on the jury I can say that I believe Ms Anthony did kill her daughter. I think her reason for doing it was that she just wanted to do whatever she wanted to do without the responsibility of having a child. I suspect that Casey is an extreme narcissist and that a trial of this magnitude is actually feeding into that narcissism. I believe that unless she gets serious counseling in prison or wherever she ends up she will never feel remorse over her daughter's death and that is part of the true tragedy of the whole thing.

But why is this trial getting this much attention? There have been other mother's who killed their own children. I forget the name of the lady who drove her kids into a lake in (I believe) South Carolina and let them drown. To me that is way more hideous than what Casey did.

Miss Anthony is not as demonic as Charles Manson, Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer. She is not Aileen Wuornos, or Betty Broderick both of whom were flat out nuts. So why all the attention?

And maybe the even bigger and more important question is: why as a society do we turn trials like this into carnival sideshows? This is an event that is a real matter of life or death. It should not have been turned into a television event where everything is being dissected  like plays of a football game.

When they started allowing camera's into court rooms they diminished the importance of trials and made "rock stars" out of OJ and Casey and that is just wrong.

The sad state of the LA Dodgers

I have been a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers since 1976 when Rick Monday was traded from the Chicago Cubs to the Dodgers. I know this might sound silly but the reason he became my favorite player was because I had never heard of anyone with a day of the week as his last name before him.

He did other memorable things in his career, especially saving the American flag from being burned on April 1976 while he was still with the Cubs. Ironically, to me, the Cubs were in Dodger stadium that day.

But this post is not about Mr Monday. This is about this season being the worst Dodger season I can remember since 1976. In truth I can only remember 2-3 losing seasons. I tried looking that up but so far no success.

From my memories 1991-92 were the of two worst seasons before this current ownership and I believe 91 was a strike year with only about half a season. For the most part the Dodgers were a well run organization with a great minor league system until the O'Malley's sold the team in 1998.

Since then the organization has been slowly crumbling, in my opinion.  The next owners were Rupert Murdoch and  NewsCorp. From a distance I don't think Mr Murdoch cared about the team as long as they were making him money.

It was under Murdoch's ownership that General Manager Kevin Malone signed free agent pitcher Kevin Brown to a 7 year $105 million  contract that many still consider to be the worst free agent signing in baseball history. I agree with them. I thought so at the time but I still think it was a terrible thing to do.

I personally think that Mr Murdoch and Malone were trying to be like the Yankees. A team that signs big name free agents in the hopes that they will help draw in fans and maybe win championships. I think that recent baseball history shows  that overall that way of doing things really doesn't work.

Yes, the Yankees had a couple of World Series in the late '90's but I believe they have only won once WS since. But this is not about my dislike of the Yankees it's about the down turn of the Dodgers.

In 2004 the Dodgers were inexplicably sold to Frank McCourt. As I said before I am not much of a economist but I have heard and read from several sources that Mr McCourt  "purchased of the Dodgers was financed mostly by debt. (wikipedia)  I have no clue how that works and even less of a clue as to why Major League Baseball would allow a team to be sold in that way.

Other than a couple of winning seasons and two playoff appearances Frank McCourt's ownership of the Dodgers has been horrid.  He hired a GM Paul Depodesta  in 2004 who had zero clue as to how to properly do his job. Depodesta made the worst trade in Dodger history.  Basically, he traded starting Catcher Paul LoDuca and Relief Pitcher Guillermo Mota to the Florida Marlins for 1st Hee-Chop Choi and CF Steve Finley.  Choi was a huge bust and Finley was at the end of his career. After that season season the he signed some big name free agents for over $91 million and the Dodgers had the worst record since the moved to La 1955.

Even though DePodesta was fired things really haven't gotten much better since then. And the in the last two seasons things have basically exploded. Mr McCourt and his wife are having a messy divorce. A San Fransico Giant fan was beaten up outside of Dodger stadium, and apparently there was not proper security at the stadium until after that attack.

In the last few days news has come out that Mr McCourt will not even afford to meet his payroll.

Even though MLB has taken charge of day to day operations which is a step toward removing Mr McCourt from ownership of the team he is vowing to fight it.

All I wish I could do it beg him to just sell now and get what he can.  We Dodger fans deserve a lot better than him.

Good guys unwanted?

Anyone who follows sports knows there are a number of players who come off as being "bad" guys. It often seems there are more guys like Terrell "I can't feed my family on $45 million" Owens, Ray "The Criminal" Lewis and Barry "just a jerk" Bonds than there are good guys.

But every once in a while a guy who seems to be a truly good guy comes around. And right now that guy is Tim Tebow. And unfortunately he seems to get more hate and disrespect than any athlete that I can ever think of; yes even more so than Mr Bonds.  And I just don't get it.

In fact, it really irritates me. In all the years I have been watching college football Mr. Tebow might just be the best quarterback I have ever seen (either him or Joe Montana) and just might be the best player in college football I have ever seen  (maybe Bo Jackson).

But he has been strongly criticized and disrespected by the so called experts. I will say that I was really surprised that he was drafted in the first round but to already say he will never be a good NFL quarterback is just not right.

I am writing this today because I saw and heard Colin Cowherd on ESPN's Sportsnation suggest that Mr Tebow should just go back to writing books and forget about football. And that, to me, is very disrespectful and a load of crap.

I have never liked speculation about what a kid will do in the NFL after leaving college. There are way too many variables to consider when evaluating a player. Unfortunately, for Mr Tebow the criticism had gone way beyond on field abilities. I have heard him being berated for his religious beliefs and for being too nice and too good.

I can not think of one other pro athlete who genuinely seems like a really good guy receive so much negativity. I just don't get it. Where does it all come from?  It can't just be jealousy can it?

After all the scandals and illegal activity the past few years the NFL and the networks that promote the NFL should be going out of their way to support Tim Tebow and do  all that it can too ensure his success. If Roger Goodall really wants to change the image of the league he should be doing all he can to put a spotlight on Mr Tebow and the other genuine good guys who are in the league.

And the haters just need to get over themselves. And that should probably start in Bristol Connecticut at ESPN.

Free speech should increase not divide

I am going to start this off by saying that the following may offend people. I apologize if I offend you but I do not apologize for the point I am trying to make.

I do not like it when groups like GLAAD or the NAACP demands apologies from people who make statements that they disagree with.

Why? Because there are some people who really and truly believe in the offensive statements they make. For example, there are people who honestly believe that being gay is morally wrong. They are the people who take the Bible very literally and believe it to the core of their being.

Demanding an apology from people like that would be asking them to go against their own morals and that is just plain wrong.

Is it right for someone to condemn a person for being gay? Of course not, so why does GLAAD get away with it? Just because there are people who still think they are wrong for being who they are? Sorry but that does not cut it with me.

The better thing to do is if someone makes a offensive statement is to ask why they said what they said. Start a dialog and open up the possibility for understanding. Maybe if GLAAD  would ask Tracy Morgan for an explanation for his rant instead of demanding and criticizing him we could all learn from his actions.

The same thing applies with the NAACP. Instead of loudly crying racism when someone says or does something against African Americans why not just ask for an explanation for the offending words or actions.

Understanding and change does not occur through accusations and name calling. And that is something that I think we still need to learn as a country.

Le "head case" James?

I am seriously starting to think that LeBron James has some mental issues. Or maybe he is the most narcissistic person ever who just happens to play bad during Championship games.

I know that there have been plenty of great athletes who struggled to win titles, the first one I think of is John Elway who won the Super Bowl in his third try.

And I could come up with a list of athlete's who went through that same thing. But to me something is different about Mr James. I did not watch every moment of the Heat vs Mavericks. I am actually not a big basketball fan, and I actually prefer college basketball over the NBA. But the parts of games that  I did watch it seemed to me that Mr James's body language was all wrong. To me he looked defeated every time I saw him in the finals.

I have seen athlete's "choke" in the past, somehow this time it seems different then that. I can't really explain it.

But, in my mind, I put how he looked in the finals and I add it to the seeming disconnect he has with how people reacted to "The Decision" and his post game comments last night and I begin to wonder if there is some mental issue there

He was asked if the negative reaction from fans around the country affected him. He reaction basically was well, they have to go back to their everyday lives and jobs and I am still me. Sorry, I can't remember the exact quote but that was the gist of what he said.

Maybe this is just me but if I was Mr James I think I would want to start doing some damage control. Does a guy with his public visibility really think it's in his best interest to continually tick people off?

He just comes of as a guy who believes  that this is his world and we just exists as annoying bugs to him. And yet he can't come through when it counts. I, obviously, am not a Doctor but that combination indicates some mental issues.

There was one other thing that I heard yesterday that makes me think about possible mental issues. I heard from a couple different people on ESPN that Mr James has people around him who are "yes" men. People who only tell Mr James what he wants to hear not what he needs to hear.

My theory is that because he has people around him who are only telling him what he wants to hear that he isn't really aware of how much the general public doesn't like him and no one is speaking truth to him. But there is a part of Mr James that doesn't really, truly believe his basketball greatness and the stress of the moment where he needs to be "clutch" gets to him.

If I am anywhere near right I hope he gets some help.  Because it would be a real shame if someone of his abilities never really becomes what he could be. And if he doesn't get help that comes with a strong dose of reality, how well can he adjust when his playing days are over?

Terrell Pryor

This kind of fits with what I wrote the other day.  I can't decide whether Terrell Pryor is overly arrogant or just plain stupid.

For those who may be reading this and may not know who he is; he was the starting quarterback for THE Ohio State Buckeye.

He is also a kid who should have known that receiving luxury cars was against NCAA rules. Either that or he knew and was not smart enough to know how to hide it. Although since he is/was a high profile player I don't think that he could have hid having those cars.

As I wrote a couple weeks ago, I do believe college athlete's should receive some form of payment for the money they make for the NCAA. However, I did not mean that they should be able to get and trade in luxury cars on a regular basis.

I lean toward him being stupid because he was pulled over by Columbus police (I still haven't heard why he was pulled over) and he didn't have insurance papers with him.  Now, I don't drive but I thought it was a law that you must have insurance papers with you when driving. He was ticketed for that and has subsequently shown proof of insurance  to the authorities.

I hope that he has learned from this experience. And has learned a little bit about thinking things through but I highly doubt it.

I just have a feeling that during this period of time off he is receiving financial help from someone who figures Mr Pryor will be making some big bucks in the future.  And if he is getting that support I think it would be a bad thing for him. Now this is coming from someone who doesn't know him but I have a feeling that Terrell needs a bit of a taste of t he real world and how to fend for himself before he possibly finds out that the NFL doesn't want him.

I just hope and pray that he doesn't end up to be the next Maurice Clarett.

Above the law and morality

I have never had a problem that LeBron  James wanted to leave Cleveland. That was his right as a free agent. I have a big problem with "The Decision" and I include ESPN as being part of that problem.

Having a TV show to very publicly announce that you are leaving your home town team is the height of arrogance and narcissism.  And then to seem to not understand what the problem is showed me that is a man of little to no character.

Unfortunately, that is a trend among pro athletes.

Michael Vick probably thought that because he was who he was he would never get caught. Or he figured  that even if caught he would not be punished.

Rae Carruth a receiver for the Carolina Panthers was so confident of himself that he conspired to have his wife killed back in 2001. I bet he never figured he would end up in prison for the rest of his life.

We all know about OJ Simpson, even after he was put on trial for murdering Nicole he never thought he would be convicted and in that case he was right and that was a terrible result.

And of course there is the man I call "The Criminal" Ray Lewis. After attending a Super Bowl party in 2000he and a couple of his buddies got in to a fight which ended up in two people being stabbed and killed. The white suit "The Criminal" was wearing never was found.  His lawyers were able to get a plea deal and 2 years probation. His buddies were acquitted.  Two people dead,  The Criminal, never admitted who killed the people, there is little doubt in my mind the he and his buddies know who did the actual killing.

He has continued to have a great career and because we are a nation of short attention spans and memories, he will probably be a Hall of Famer one day.   That totally sickens me to think about and I try not to even after all this time.

There are numerous other examples I could cite. The ones listed here are the most despicable to me.

Unfortunately, this is a side of sports I have to accept if I want to continue my enjoyment of the game.

But it is a sad reflection on our society that what you do in a sports arena makes you immune to common decency and lets you be above the law.

Unfortunately, I could cite several instances where the same could be said about politicians who are supposedly trying to do what is best for this nation.

There are many things to love about this country but sometimes it seems like there are as many things not too like.

SAD

Wussification of America:Sports edition

Why don't we just turn the NFL into the National Flag Football league? They could totally outlaw tackles and just be nice and gentle with each other. That way nobody would get hurt and people would have to find something different to complain and be scared about.

And we could totally outlaw barreling into home plate and  at second base. We could just let instant replay decide who is safe and out. Oh, and they should start using whiffle balls so that if a batter get hit by accident he won't have a boo, boo on his arm.

I don't think that sarcasm comes of real well when written so I just want to make sure that whoever may be reading this knows that the proceeding was all sarcasm.

I have heard too much complaining about pro athletes getting hurt.  By the time they make it to the professional level the athlete's should know that they take risks with their bodies every game they play. And most players are paid well enough that if they handle  their money they should still be set for life even if they receive career ending injuries.

I totally agree with the NFL outlawing players using their bodies like a missile to make tackles. Those kinds of  tackles are overly dangerous and should be unnecessary.  But I wonder, if a career ending injury comes in an unexpected way; what will they ban next?

I can seriously see a movement towards a flag football league with each career ending injury that occurs and that would be a bad thing.

As for San Francisco Giant's catcher Buster Posey  breaking his leg while blocking home plate; everybody needs to get over it. I have heard people talking about this like catchers seriously hurt themselves seriously all the time while blocking the plate. I can't remember the last time an injury like that happened.  Seriously.

I understand talk about wanting to teach catchers to make sweeping tags rather than blocking the plate.  But in the heat of the moment a catcher is going to react however he reacts.  A play at home plate is one of the most thrilling plays in baseball. I like the physicality of it and I hope it does not totally go away.

As for Mr Posey complaining about the runner running right into him; where else could the Colorado runner go?  I have seen the play several times, Mr Posey was blocking the only running lane there was the Colorado player had no choice.  And Mr Posey had his legs set in the wrong position and that is why he broke his leg.

Some times it is time to man up and admit your part in the situation.

I just wish wanting to ban stuff would end and the games can just be what they are; entertainment.

By the way, we need less replays in sports, not more, the games should be natural, not George Orwell's 1984.

Governor Rick Scott

Florida (R) Governor Rick Scott is going to sign into law a bill that would require all Welfare recipients to take mandatory drug tests which each person will have to pay for it.

There is so much wrong with this that I am not really sure where to begin.

How about I begin with my first thought when I heard about this, "Aren't Republicans supposed to be about less government intrusions?"

I appreciate what the Governor is trying to do. We as a country are losing the war on drugs and a new way to deal with it has to be found. But this is not it by a long shot.

I know that the idea that one is innocent until proven guilty is about being tried in a court of law. But doesn't that idea apply in our daily lives also. This law, to me, is basically saying that all people on welfare are guilty of using drugs until they prove they are innocent. This is profiling at it absolute worst.

And doesn't this law essentially violate people rights against illegal search and seizure? If it doesn't someone will have to explain to me why.

Part of Governor Scott's platform was financial responsibility.  Even with the provision that the Welfare recipients have to pay for the drug test; aren't there going to be other costs for doing the test that won't be covered by the people taking the test?  So this law is likely to cost the state lots of money.

He also ran on creating jobs. I guess this is good for creating jobs but it does not come any where near making up for turning away  200 million dollars the state could have had from the federal government for building a high speed monorail for connecting different parts of the state.

No only would that have created jobs just for building the monorail but other jobs could have been created from business that could have opened up along the route of the monorail.  Governor Scott claims the monorail would have actually cost the state money but I don't get how it would have cost more than $200 million.

All I know is it's time to watch the lawsuits start flying down here.