Running Blind

Cleveburgh is hosting the Pan-American Games this week. 

These are master athletes over the age of, I think, 35. This includes 24 medal contending events such as baseball, tennis, pickleball, archery, bowling, curling (yes, in summer!), various running races and yes, cycling. 

There are other things too. 

Walking Shep, we stumbled upon the cycling. 

A few weeks back, I was asked if I'd be interested in being a guide for a visually impaired runner who wanted to do the 10k.  Oddly, I wanted to do it. I smart enough to ask their goal and pace. No reason for me do it if I couldn't keep up with them. 

Her (yes, a she) pace was fine for me. Slow for me even, but hey - when would I have the chance to run in the Pan-Am games again?  Yeah, I was supposed to see my friends this weekend, but I figured I'd blow them off reschedule.

The intermediary said they'd send her an email saying we had someone. I started to panic as I found out it was a "reduced" fee of $125.  For a fucking 6 mile run. I was assured, as a guide, the fee was waived. 

As it would turn out, neither I or the set-up guy heard back from her. Then it got me thinking: he sent her an email. She's site impaired. How does she know she got an email??

Yes, I'm well aware of programs that tell you and will read them - but just asking the questions was the joke. And it sounds better than I got passed over by Helen Keller. 

I will not be running on Sunday. I will be - but not with the Pan-Am games. 

Song by: Godsmack

Ain't Equal

Back in 1989, Laurie Anderson had these lyrics in her song "Beautiful Red Dress":

"I just want to say something. 

You know, for every dollar a man makes a woman makes 63 cents. 

Now, fifty years ago that was 62 cents. 

So, with that kind of luck, it'll be the year 3,888 before we make a buck."

According to the Pew Research Center, in 2023, women now make $0.82 for every dollar a man earns. 

I've said for a while now, that if one insists on having a 'gender reveal party', the expectant couple should open a wallet. If it has a one dollar bill, it's a boy.  If it has 73 cents (now I guess 82), it's a girl. I wonder how real that party gets after that showstopper. 

Even in the Ocean's movies (ewww), the women only had Ocean's 8.  Or 73% of Ocean's 11. They movie makers didn't even try to hide it. 

On the surface, it would seem that Anderson's calculations would be off a bit, but not by that much. Still - $0.24 increase in 23 years is kind of astonishing compared to that rate it had been increasing prior to 1990. 

But then you take this latest wage gap example:

I get it - it's sports, and the market drives what you get paid. But does it? By that much? 

Mind you, I don't follow college basketball that closely, let alone the drafts, but even Mary Ingalls could see that this is way lopsided. Even some of the least knowledgable sportsball folks has heard Caitlin Clark's name all season. She is a phenom in basketball. 

Notice, I did not say "women's basketball". 

Yes, I get that men's basketball is more established and brings in more money than the WNBA.  But for one player, does it bring in more than 163 times as much?  One player. Now add in the Currys, James and the lot. 

For those who know of the WNBA player Brittney Griner who was detained, tried and was in prison in Russia a year or two ago, she was met with comments like:  "you don't see Lebron James playing basketball in Russia". 

Because he can afford not to. WNBA players have to pick up other opportunities to actually make money. He brings home about $42M a year - NBA pay.  Not Nike, Tonal or Sprite endosements, and to whatever else he lends his name and likeness.

So, now let's go back to that wage gap to the two examples above. I'm not sure my iPhone calculator could show the disparity in pay, but it is no longer $0.82 to the dollar. More like a percentage of a penny? 

Just remember folks, every single Republican - including the females - voted against equal pay act. Oh - and the GOP congressmen who sponsored the bill even voted against it.  And this year, Republicans rejected a Democratic attempt to include equal pay in the Women's Bill of Rights. 

And isn't it just fucking sad that we have to make a separate bill of rights for a specific gender? 

May I have some GOP readers. If so, they don't really speak up here. But if they are, I'm all ears to hear why they think women don't deserve equal pay. 

I'll wait.  

Song by: Megan Thee Stallion

Killer

The man doesn't deserve his picture up here. 

Orenthal James is dead. ...and not a minute too soon, if you ask me. 

I remember the slow car chase all those years ago. It started before I even left work, and I just sat at home, ordered a pizza and watched.  And watched. 

Ditto with the trial. 

The verdict was strange. Well, where I was. Everyone was at work and we piled into a medium sized conference room to await the jury's decision. 

Working at a large higher educational area at the time, I'd say at least one-third of those in the room were persons of colour. When the verdict was read aloud, it was the most most most uncomfortable scenario:  white people groaning; black people cheering. It was a weirdly divisive moment.  And somehow it brought us the Kardashians, so..........another tragedy on top of it all. 

Oddly, just the other day somehow in random conversation I brought up Kato - but me from the Green Hornet or Lantern or something.  710 goes, "you mean Kaelin?". I suppose everyone has their cultural references. Talk about your fame for 15 minutes. 

The group was texting yesterday (which is where I got the title image - thanks Mort) and I poked, "He never did find the real killer" as he claimed he'd do, and then I added on "I guess he never had a mirror". 

Comedy never waned when it came to an OJ reference.  SNL did a skit not that long ago that was well done - though Gal Gadot is all about the cue cards.

 

And Family Guy has tons of things OJ related. I found this one the funniest. Really this should start at the 2:08 mark, should it not, just move the bar to get you there.  

The internet is a little abuzz about it all. Not as much as I thought it would, but then I don't have X or Threads or anything. 

Some of them blah, one or two were good.  Like this one. 

Song by: Seal

First Down

It seems weird to have little (read: nothing) to say. 

Politics?  Meh. 

Super Bowl?  Double Meh.  

Post Super Bowl Shooting?  Fuck. 

I mean, it was a painful game to watch for sure. Teams that good shouldn't have so many turnovers. For your sports adverse folks, turnovers in football are not pastry desserts. 

Usher looked good, but either the sound was totally fucked up, or......maybe he just really can't sing. To be fair, it's tough to screw up his song "Yeah".  I think, like the title, the tune has one word.  One!

BLOTUS had the balls to say it would be"disloyal" for Taylor Swift to endorsed Pappy Joe. 

WTF.  He's claiming he passed (read: signed....did nothing to craft) a bill for musical artists and she owes all her fortunes because of him. 

Yeahhhhhhhh. 

Of course, he's not so silently blowing the whistle to his comrades to turn on her. I mentioned weeks ago (or less), that the GOP is truly afraid of this woman. It's bad enough one person could topple a political party, but a GIRL???????

The timing isn't right yet, but yeah, she's gonna have to come out not for Biden but against BLOTUS. It will be a timing issue, I believe. 

I also need BLOTUS to die.  

I've said before it can't be anything but natural causes so he's not made a martyr. We are past that now. It no longer matters - conspiracies will take over no matter what, but if it keeps him from office again, faux-martyrdom is a price I'm willing to accept. 

As for the shooting - it's all very new, but since they "caught the guys" and didn't "kill the guys", I'm guessing they're white. 

200 officers on site and multiple folks shot in broad daylight. Many (most? all?) were kids. Hell, these guys don't even have to seek out schools anymore. The kids are coming to them to get shot. 

But here's the sad sad fact. Had Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce been shot or killed, Kansas City - MO and KS - would be pushing for stricter gun laws.  .......but since it's just kids.......they'll let it slide. 

America. 

Song by: Fatboy Slim

Sister Chirstian

I really don't have much to write about today. 

I saw Bobby Knight died. 

For you sportsball impaired people, he was a volatile basketball coach for the Indiana University for almost 30 years. 

He played the sport for THE Ohio State University. 

Regardless of all his wins, it is his temper for which people will remember him: hitting players and throwing chairs across the court when he was angry. 

It'll give people the creeps, but now and then  - mostly then - Knight had a hot-ish daddy thing goin' on. 

Sue me. 

I will say, his death gives me to use the title image. On Parks & Recreation, at a music festival called the Unity Concert, there was a band that played, which was called Bobby Knight Ranger.  At the end of their set they tossed their chairs across the stage. 

Save for the show's writers, I'm thinking there were 83 people who watched the show who got the joke. I know I couldn't stop laughing. 

Andy, the emcee of the concert says, "I've never heard "Sister Christian" played so many times".  It garnered another laugh from me. 

Song by: Night Ranger

Down for the Count

Once again, the NFL (read: Roger Goodell) got it wrong. 

I went to the gym yesterday, which every TV (well, all 4) are always on an ESPN, most likely not the Ocho. 

I barely follow football for the teams in my home state or home town. Cincinnati is pretty much Kentucky so I don't really count them.  n

Since I get to the gym well before the sun rises, I rarely see any news before arriving, so I missed the Buffalo - Cincinnati game news where a young player up and had a cardiac arrest during the game. Tragic on any level, right? 

I don't think it's know if an actual play in which he made a tackle spurred the MI or if he had an (un)knowng underlying heart condition. And for this next part: it doesn't really matter. 

Medical teams did CPR on Damar Hamlin for nine minutes! That is not a short amount of time. From what I could tell, no commercials were taken so hundreds of thousands (millions?) of people watch this unfold in real time - including the powers that be in the NFL. 

I get the NFL is a business. A big one. Billions of dollars riding on just about any and every thing. This is why Goodell & Co have turned a blind eye to players (and owners) domestic violence, rape, murder, attempted murder, sex trafficking, dog fighting / killing and deadly brain injuries.

Players play a game that brings in tons of revenue. Any disruption causes the league and owners money - and lord fucking knows - you cannot have that. 

Ironically, the turned a different kind of blind eye to Black Lives Matter. They really didn't think (read:care) it's an issue.  And let's face it, a majority of players are black or mixed race and only a handful followed the Colin Kaepernick to take a knee for a silent protest. Clearly, their paychecks were more important than the lives of their own gender and race. 

There is a reason when you Gooooooogle Kaepernick, the first thing that comes up is "American civil rights activist".  Not former football player. 

But here's where the NFL failed: again. 

They had every fucking intention of finishing the game at hand. Advertising slots were sold, money had already (I'm guessing) exchanged hands. Dead air.  ....and worse, One Day at a Time reruns to fill the air time. While I'm sure Bonnie Franklin's estate needs the $$$$, really?  Finish the game? 

Yes, an hour after the player collapsed, the NFL postponed the game. Don't thank Goodell for that.  Players and Coaches not only refused to go back on the field, they contacted their unions, who supported their action. Goodell's hand was forced. He had no choice. 

Men are brutalizing other men on the field - and in this case (maybe) almost to death. For sport. For cash. It's a modern day Glad-He-Ate-Her.......minus the lions and Russell Crowe in a harness and breast plate. 

Goodell is great for business and the owners. Not so great for the folks on the field. Unless you're a rapist, sex traffiker, murder, attempted murder, dog fight owner, domestic abuser who gets away with your actions, where any other profession would have fired your fucking ass for those things. 

But for the non-felons, the NFL doesn't really give a fuck about you. Not all of you are a Rob Gronkowski getting national endorsements that eclipse your actual salary. I've seen the numbers, and after taxes and your agent fees - you're not making much of anything for the short time you're in the sport. Most of you are in debt after your signing bonus. Mostly because  you're really really bad with money. 

I hear people for Goodell to go, but why would he?  Players aren't pushing for anything. They're protected even from the law. Owners?  Hand over fist in $$$$.   But their employment practices are abhorrent. 

Maybe the union will step in for better conditions for the players and coaches. But it's the almighty dollar we are talking about here.  Much like Mr. Hamlin, I won't be holding my breath. 

Song by: OK Go

Boys of Summer

Well, THAT was $50 down the drain.  

Admittedly, I haven't been following baseball as much this year as in the past. 

Perhaps it is the transition from the Indians to the Guardians, and while little has changed but the name and ugly logo, I felt disconnected from it all. 

I knew they were in first place in the Central Division. I knew "we" had that sewn well before the end of the season.  

....but then it was post-season and I had nothing to wear. 

I had not bought one 'Guardian' anything. I felt bad-ish. So off to the team shop I went. 

This is a problem for me in many ways. In my pea-brain, I have an idea of what I want and what I think should be there.  This never matches up. 

Designs and styles are always wrong - in my honest opinion. But like most of my clothes shopping, it's impulsive and turns out to be wrong. 

I actually am ok with the design on this shirt. But lord, it's dated. Already. 

Post season was short lived. Yeah yeah, we beat Tampa Bay, which led it to Round Two with the New York Yankees.  But yesterday we lost that series in four games. 

So instead of just having a team shirt I can wear anytime over the years, I bought into the generic post-season, which technically could have gone through the World Series.  

And since it was special post-season, I only paid $50 for..............a t-shirt. One that is a reminder we didn't actually get far into the post-season. 

Way go go, Blobby. 

Song by: Don Henley 

Fishing in the Dark

While I might have grown up in an affluent, super white village, but at least it was not Hudson. 

Hudson is not that far from where I grew up, and it was where a set of cousins resided as well. It was probably on par with where I was raised, though, if possible, was actually whiter. 

The other two things neither townships (not even full towns, not really) had:  ice fishing and prostitution. 

Just don't tell it to the mayor.  Sorry.  Former mayor. 

Yes, he draws a line - somehow - to how ice fishing will lead to prostitution. 

To be clear, he doesn't think if your'e the one doing the fishing, you'll become a whore.......just turn to them.  Or something.  I am unaware, but apparently, women of ill repute will hang around waiting for guys to.............wait for it...........take the bait. 

And he means what he says. And he says it with a straight face. And the guy next to him doesn't burst out laughing. 

What I love is: this story made national news. Not just an affluent white podunk town, 

By-the by.............I'm not 100% sure Hudson has any place to actually ice fish. And I don't think there are hotels, which means, you will have to use a 4 bed, 3.5 bath colonial in which to get down to bwass tacks, as Lili Von Shtupp might say. 

It did not take too long, but the mayor resigned.  ....also making national news. 

Hudson must be so proud. 

Song by: the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Calling it Quits

I should be ok with the head coach of the Oakland Los Angeles Las Vegas Raiders resigning from his job after multiple instances of bigotry, racism, misogyny and homophobia.  Deep down, I'm a little pissed that the organization and the NFL didn't fire him. 

THAT sends a message. 

Allowing him to faux apologize and probably resign with his benefits and golden parachute is bullshit and says all the wrong things to the others in the NFL. 

Jon Gruden called Roger Goodell a 'faggot' and a 'pussy'. At least in email, if not to his face. I'm sure he meant 'a bundle of sticks' and a 'kitty cat', right? 

He said the head of the NFL union, who is black, that his lips were the size of Michelin Tires. 

He denounced any protesting by kneeling and made homophobic comments about the NFL trying to be inclusive by drafting Michael Sam, who would have been the first out player. 

There were comments about women too, of course.  Female refs?  

While, clearly, all of that is horrible, I think I was way way way more offended that he thought the league was too safety conscious. 

Yes, clear medical indications of playing literally turns a players brains to mush, but the league is being pussies about protection. And not just NFL, but down to pee-wee. 

This guy clearly had issues not performing well enough for his father as a tot - and grew up to be one big asshole.  But an asshole who got to leave - more or less - on his own terms. 

Once again, the NFL holds almost no one accountable for anything.  

Song by: Aimee Mann

Run Baby Run

A.  I didn't know the actively gay football player.........ummm......active football player who happens to be gay......is / was a republican.  Had I known, I would have at least included that fact with a disclaimer.  Hell, I might not even have posted it at all.

B. I am as guilty as anyone about not knowing the above story and facts. Had I known, I'd have posted about Sha'Carri Richardson instead of the football guy - who is probably no longer a tight end..................if you know what I mean. Perhaps now he is a wide receiver................if you know what I mean. 

Of course there are a number of reasons the A story got the attention and not the B. 

1.  Well............track isn't football.  Let's be honest, track & field doesn't really have the caché or dollars to control the media feed. 

2. Sha'Carri is a woman. 

3. Sha'Carri is black. 

4. Sha'Carri is gay. 

5. Sha'Carri is a black, gay woman. 

It could be any combination of 2-4, but let's be frank: it's #5. 

Unless you are number one in your sport (Simone Biles or Venus Williams.....no, not you Serena) or discuss mental health issues (Naomi Osaka) you basically do not get 'air time'. No doubt worse if you're gay. 

So even in the gay sports world - it still is the white male who rules the roost. And that is a fucking shame. 

Don't get me wrong - even I didn't know this or see it, so I am guilty of this too. It's time to be better. 

Song by: Garbage

Knee Deep

 I couldn't decide to write about the 17 dipshit with a semi-automatic weapon that will hopefully be spending what little life he has behind bars. I'm hoping the constant rape pushes him to hang himself. 

Yes. I am THAT uncaring. At least of that turd. 

I'm also not here to give him any notoriety. 

I will give it up for the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Ok. Let's just get this out front. I didn't know Milwaukee had a fucking basketball team, let alone the name of one. I am not a total dolt when it comes to sports, but I'd have to run through a fuck of a lot of cities before ever assuming Milwaukee had a team that wasn't the Brewers.  

But good for the Bucks for boycotting game 5 of their play-offs. It's not every day that a team no one knew existed halts a season no one understands. 

But fuck - the ABA has BLACK LIVES MATTER on their temporary Orlando basketball courts. They sure as fuck had better halted their playoff games for what is going on in Kenosha.  I don't know they would have if the Bucks just hadn't said they weren't taking the court. 

I mean, my g-d, Roger Goodelle apologized to Colin Kaepernick this week. Sure, four years too late. Four years and being blackballed too late. But I suppose it's a start. 

And for historical sake, I will mention that this is all going on during the GOP convention, so you know they're loving this. ....but in all the wrong ways.  

Song by: George Clinton

Truth?

I feel bad for Kobe Bryant and his family.  I feel very sorry for the folks who hitched a ride on his helicopter.

I know everyone has their time and place, as we are not here forever, but you gotta figure it was a shitty last 60-90 seconds of their life. The terror and probably almost known certainty before the actuality has to be sheer terror.

Bryant was a hell of a basketball player, and apparently a great businessman as well, as he left his companies with over $2 billion (with a 'b') in assets.

He was also a probable rapist.

Alleged.

I mean, he settled for an undisclosed sum of money to the woman who claims he sexually assaulted her. Nothing says 'not guilty' like a cash settlement and a non-disclosure agreement, am I right?

I only bring it up, as almost no one else has. Some reports of his death don't mention it at all. Those who do, have it buried in paragraph 27 - and as we all know, people's attention spans don't usually make it that far in any article.

Again, I only bring it up as if he weren't a super well known, wealthy sports figure, it would lead the story, if not the headline:  Rapist and 8 Others Die in Crash.

But you're not going to see that here.  .....and that faux-headline is the wrong approach as well, I might add.

I have said it before and will again, I'm sure, but I hate hate hate it when BLOTUS is right (well, to a degree), about #fakenews.

Not his fake news, that is made up and tries to pass off as truths. Not his lies that actual truth in news are lies, when it makes him look bad.  No, I'm talking the partial truths or the skewed parts - as news is biased. No doubt about it. So Bryant gets a different end to his story (well, to a degree) than (m)any charged or convicted felon.

Let's look at Greta Thunberg this past week.

The top image is the one that most all media used of her and four other women who spoke regarding climate change at Davos last week - and was the one AP sent out for use. The bottom one was the full image. Yes, the Ugandan activist was cropped out.

I find it hard to believe this was a coincidence. It's bias and it's real.  I don't even think you can make the argument for 'space in printing'. If so, you could have cut the white girl out on the far right. ....but the AP didn't do that.

So you get partial news, because, I dunno - it makes the readers feel better? The advertisers?

I'm not belittling Bryant or his death. Both are just facts. And I'm not making fun of his death when I say the next two things:

1. It took BLOTUS off the front page for two days. Hall-e-fucking-lujah. Mind you that can be a band thing, as he like diversions. Though I think John Bolton took care of that 12 hours later.

2. LeBron cannot savor his moment of passing Bryant's scoring standing just the day prior to the fatal accident. I like LeBron the humanitarian - with his decent works with at risk youths, but I am very over the basketball player.


So, I'd like the media to do a better job of reporting. I think that's the bottom line here. Not only would it just be a reporting of fact (Kobe's death is all emotional reporting), but it's reporting the truth. Imagine how fucked BLOTUS would be if, sans emotion, rhetoric or conjecture, the press just reported the happenings of his days. He would have ended his term months ago.

Imagine how empowered women of colour might be had they been able to see the full Davos photo.

Media does us a disservice on a daily basis. I think they try to do the right thing, but ratings and advertising rates rule the roost. When your news organization makes more advertising dollars than your prime time shows........well..........you get what they pay for.



Song by: Def Leppard

Pink

I really have nothing today. Thought we'd see a movie yesterday, but that didn't pan out. I bought some music, but haven't listened enough to write a Record of the Month.  I took dog pics, but you know you have to wait till Saturday for those to possibly surface, right?

So all I have is picture of Gus Kenworthy and his new pink hair.   {swoon}

Gus, as I'm sure he'd allow me to call him, is a Olympic medalist, dog-rescuer and a funny-ish guy. ....and gay. Gus is gay.

He's a handsome enough chap, or so I think. {and I do!}

I'm digging this pic he posted on Instagram. The pink kind of works for him. It brings out the blue in his eyes and yes, the pink in his lips. The contrast of his beard works too.

Mr. K is also funny on Twitter. 

So, while I have nothing, I'm still giving you Gus Kenworthy.


You're welcome.



Song by: Baby Carrots

She Works Hard for the Money

....so hard for it honey.

I mean, really W.T. F. does a man with $6.5 BILLION have the need to go to a store-front hooker palace.massage parlour.

For g-d's sake:  order IN!

Yes, I know I'm late to this, but you know - Oscars, Shep Porn, yada yada yada.

Save for the human trafficking factor, I think it's the commonality of a store front that offends me the most.  Let's face it, if it just a Shiatsu and a store-front, Robert Kraft could have walked into any of the 3,401 Massage Envys that are at any local mall.

There's a few things with this story that just get to me:

1.  I guess the 1% are just like us.  I mean, if I had to pay for a hand-job, or whatever else he got in that place.

Money makes no difference in urges or lack of discretion. He might be smart in business, but lacks common sense. Of course, he also probably thinks he is above the law and rules do not apply.......to him.

2. Human Trafficking.

I could give two shits about a lousy hand-job, to any socio-economic class. Not really.

However, when it's done at the cost of basic enslavement for the sexual pleasure of others, there is something wrong there.

Kraft's buddy, BLOTUS, wants that g-ddamn fucking wall........to reduce human trafficking.

Oooooh-weeeeee......who's gonna tell that gas bag he'll now need a wall from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Bhutan, Eritrea, and any of the other countries.

But yes, the place Bob Kraft got his happy ending - albeit, interrupted (I think) - was / is involved in human trafficking.  Period.  And anymore, when you're paying for sex, you just kind of have to figure this to be the case.  And because you propagate this behaviour, Bob, you're part of the problem.

Of course, you and BLOTUS don't think this to be the case - grabbing pussies when and where you can.

And the slap in the face irony of the NFL's fucking Human Trafficking Awareness commercial they produced AND played........AT the SuperBowl where Kraft's team was playing is completely lost on Kraft, the NFL and the like.

The NFL won't do a thing to Kraft - even if they could. Dog killers get a pass.  Spousal abuse gets a pass. Theft - pass. Attempted murder - pass. 

If Bob Kraft gets down on one knee - where he usually pays his women to be - during the National Anthem, then the league will act.   ....eventually.



Song by: Donna Summer

Do It

I"m assuming you all know I think Nike's new ad campaign is da bomb.

Oh yes. I just said that.

I said the majority of what I wanted to say regarding the matter over two years ago (!), except for the fact that I haven't.

The stuff about why not to stand still....well.....stands. But the reasons for kneeling - the protest and the why behind it is even more important than before.

Since - oh, let's say - Charlottesville, you've seen, on average a weekly basis, videos of people of colour being harassed and / or arrested by cops for opening their own store, working on their own car, keying into their own house, etc.

You've seen video of people of colour having the cops called on them for using coupons, barbecuing, selling water, using a study hall where they go to college, using a pool where they live, etc.

You get the idea.

Black people are being reported for being black.

That is why Colin & Co kneels.

It's not about the troops. It's not about the flag. Ironically, the troops and flag should be protecting the put-upon population. But you can't tell that to stupid fucks.

So, yes, what Nike is doing is risky, but important.  If these folks who are boycotting the company because they support Kaepernick are so upset that they're cutting up and burning their Nike gear, where was their outrage at the abuse of child labor?

Oh that's right.  They only care about in-utero.  What was I thinking?

Still, I like Nike's message:  Believe in Something. Even if it Means Sacrificing Everything.


Say what you will about Nike (though I think I've only owned one shirt by them), while the 49ers dropped Kaepernick and he was virtually black-balled by the NFL, Nike never dropped him as a spokesperson. Sure, they didn't use him - until now - but they didn't abandon him either.

I don't know the number of pro this campaign vs anti.  I'm guessing Nike does, or they wouldn't have done it. I hope the pro wins. I hope it is a precursor for November 2018.  I mean, I'm voting, but I'm still not buying anything Nike.



Song by: Nellie Furtado

Play the Game

Allegedly I should be outraged that Urban Meyer is suspended for three whole football games.

The nerve of me for not being so.

Of course some Ohio State friends don't know I feel this way - I mean, why walk into that hornet's nest?

The most I know of it - again, I don't really care - is that one of Meyers' coaches smacked his wife around and Urban and his wife knew of it for three years and did nothing. Allegedly.

Allegedly enough that an "investigation" got him suspended for three games. THAT has to put a huge dent in his $7.6 MILLION dollar salary. Looks like he'll be living on Ramen for a while. And nothing but trips to Aldi for him.

Facebook friends and OSU alumni are up in arms I tells ya.  The unfairness of it all. He couldn't have possibly known, says they . ......except that Urban himself said he "counseled" the couple.   Of course, they says, the victim (you know the wife...........not the fans),  is a known liar.  You know, because they all know her.

This is why my eye lids are black and blue. Not because Zach Smith beat me too.  No, it's because I roll my eyes so hard at this shit.

Replace the words "Urban Meyer" with "Joe Paterno" and I can guarantee you the same people defending Meyer would be denouncing Paterno.

I dare someone to make the argument that beating your wife is less worse than child rape.  I mean, when I write it, sure it sounds worse, but I'm not sure you can sell it to woman who has been beaten and lives in fear of it happening again.

Paterno's take down was the same as Meyers. They didn't rape boys or beat women (well, that we know of!), but they knew about it and let it slide for the "love the game", the roar of the crowd.   .....oh, and the $7.6 MILLION dollar paycheck.

In a past life, I worked enough with the Ohio State Athletic Department to know that things are not created equal.  Remind me to tell you of the basketball recruit who got a 12 (!!!) on his ACT, but on his second try got a 32!.  Yeahhhhhhh...........I guess he just had an off day.

I've never understood the devotion to this game of football - be it college or pro. It's just a game and in the end, unless you're getting that paycheck, it has very little baring on much of anything. 

.....except for one time when I got to see Mike Vrabel in the locker room.   TOTALLY worth it.



Song by:  Queen

Grazed Knees

Oh for fuck's sake people - he's diverted your attention...........again.

And I mean, like all 330 million of you.....plus some Canadians.

Two fucking tweets and now we are like four days in of doing nothing but commenting about it, or commenting about the comments....or commenting about who or who did not kneel at the NFL games.

In the meantime - and in the West Wing - I'm just assuming evil is afoot and no one is watching.... again.

On the off chance that there isn't extra secret plotting, planning and scheming going on, my original post still pretty much stands.

Still there ain't a person not talking about it.  ....and of course by talking, I mean posting a lot of inane things on facebook and twitter.  I'm taking friends, "friends", sports figures, politicians, "celebrities" etc. Everyone has something to say.

The problem is, few have anything relevant to say......unlike, say, me!

The predictable right folks who trotted out veterans who thought it was horrible that they fought only to have the flag disrespected.  The predictable left trotted out veterans who said they served so that people could exercise their right to protest or express themselves. They cancel each other out in certain ways - though neither side is ever gonna buy the other's point of view.

The fireable offense is new.....and laughable.  Rape is fine (grab her by the pussy!). Attempted murder is fine. Domestic abuse is right on point. Dog fighting - awww....give the poor felon a second chance! Kneel instead of stand? Throw the bum out for life!

Yeah - that seems like a proportional response.

But logic and reason isn't really a thing now, so you just have to roll with the punches.....though I won't stop trying to bring some semblance of recent history to make someone scratch their head and kind of go, "ohhhhhhhh".

I'm just not wagering on it.

(Morty gets the credit for the title image. ....sending it to me, that is......not creating it.)


Song by: Snow Patrol

Tiger

Poor Poor Tiger.

Drunk......or not.

Driving under the influence.  But of what?

We assume booze, don't we?  That's our go-to. But he says 'no', it was pain meds, as if that is more socially acceptable.

Granted, the man has been plagued by surgery and pain and hasn't won a major since 2008, so that could drive a man to take a handful of dolls.

....oh, and to bang, 18-19 skanks while being married. But who am I to judge?

It's his statement to the Jupiter Police Dept that had me laughing - - thanking them for all they did in this situation.....as if that will free him from any liability. I suppose I'd try to butter up the po-po if I were charged too.

Still, if you scroll down the news feed in the attached image, the man killed a zookeeper for chrissake!

Oh well, when you're a 'star' you can get away with anything.



Song by: Paula Cole

Wicked Game

Surprise!

We went to Game 1 of the World Series !!!!!!

(that's why this is getting posted later than my usual posts - the game went until almost 12mn.)

I wasn't purposefully holding out on telling you. I just wasn't sure.

I know last week I said I would love to go, but couldn't even afford Standing Room Only......and I can't. Well, I could......I just wouldn't. My friend Phyllis mocked me via text going, "$1600 vs a being part of the historic two championships in one year story......PRICELESS"

And it is. But her text-mocking didn't get me to fork over the dough.

As it turns out, one of the lawyers my mother previously worked for has been good to her. While he left town long ago for other career options, she and my father (and 710 and myself) have been the recipient of his generosity and / or connections.

When Bill worked at the White House - we got private tours of the residence, West Wing and the OEOB. My parents attended the 1996 DNC convention and attended the inauguration and one of the balls - in what is now the Trump Hotel in DC {shudder}.

And I've been to more than one Indians game  - front row, behind first base, thanks to Bill.

While Bill has been gone from Ohio for at least 16 years, for some reason he's kept his season tickets.

And while he certainly wants to attend a few World Series games, he cannot attend Game 1.

Those two tickets were offered to my mother. And while I think she'd like to attend, being almost 88 and the game starting after 22:00 (she's not supposed to drive after dark) and a planned temp of 40 degrees, she passed along the tickets to 710 and myself.

In a way - this was a problem. Right next door to the Jake (I still refuse to call it Progressive Field), the Cleveland Cavaliers weren't just having their season opener - but it was the Ring Ceremony for their 2016 championship. It was to be a huge crowd downtown for sure - if it was just one event, but it was two.

We left work early (16:00), so we could get home and take care of Shep - then it was off to downtown.

The game itself - if you watched - was incredible. Well, the first inning was. Then there was a lull, but I was surprised how many people wanted to sit and for lengths of time. It's the fucking World Series. I felt the need to be on my feet.

Seventh inning was a slight nail-biter, where in theory, Chicago could have tied the game, but long story short: they didn't. Not a run for them. And the eighth inning was just pure joy. I've never high-fived so many people, let alone strangers, in my life.

The crowd was a mix. People who had tickets, but clearly could care less about being at the game vs being at the World Series. The guys a few from us never watched a thing and were both playing with their phones the entire time.

The guy in front of us - video later - was what would be the crazy drunk uncle who yells, "You bums" at the tv screen.....except he was in his early 30s and doing it real-time. Some of this comments were funny - some fell flat.

The girl next to us was annoying as fuck. And not just because of her ugly-assed septum ring. Partially because she smelled of lots and lots and lots of banana peppers. But she had a horrible high pitched scream and she was trying to trash talk some players. Ugh.

As 710 said - "can you imagine your mother sitting here during this?", meaning these two mentioned, plus their plus ones.

Yet everyone was super friendly. Some guy behind me asking if I wanted a beer. I think that was code for: 'I've got a room at the Residence Inn', but I wasn't sure. He wasn't my type and oddly, I didn't drink at all. Not one.

Good thing too. If you had to pee, the lines were forever to get in. But I did eventually, and wouldn't you know it, I ran into one of my cousins who was in from out of town there. We both did double takes, did our business and caught up outside the restrooms.

After, it occurred to me: fuck - this is the second World Series I've attended. Two different decades. Two different centuries!

So now it is time for bed. I'm considering working from home today. I'll decide when I wake up.

We are up 1-0. Only three more to go.



Song by: Chris Isaak

Diamonds and Tears

Cleveland is going to the World Series !!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes. THAT many exclamation points. Deal with it.

For the first time in 19 years, the Indians are back at the championship level. I could not be happier.

Growing up, I never thought I'd see the Cleveland Indians in a World Series. Now I've lived to see it happen three times.

I have yet to see a win......but I'm optimistic...which is SO not my style.

The regular season was somewhat anticlimactic. We were in first place since June and stayed there through September.

I'm not complaining. We are usually more up and down. There was always a reason to check the standings in the daily paper. After a while, though I did it, there seemed to be little point.

Post season was fun. We swept the first set of games. And had it not been of a horrible horrible game 4 in the American League final, we could have swept that series too.

While it would have been fun to win and home, I wasn't broken up about that. Hell, we didn't even win in this country! A win is a win is a win. I'm ok with where it was.

I got to go to a game in the 1997 World Series - our last one. I purposefully picked game 4 in case we did sweep....or got swept. I wanted to be a part of it.

My ticket that year - from a broker - was $330. It started out at $200, but I kept hanging up after blanching at the price. Every 15 minutes, it kept going up. I finally just folded and bought two tickets.

Mind you - that was almost two decades ago.

Tickets for this series?  Standing Room Only starts $641.  Starts. There are actually more expensive SRO "seats".

If one wants to put their cheeks in a seat, those start at the $800+ range. ...and those are the upper upper deck.

So while "we" are going to the World Series - we are not. It would be $1600 - minimum.....and that doesn't include parking!  Or beer. Or an evening time dog walker.

....and if tickets are $800 from the box office, can you imagine what a broker will charge you?

I can reassess as we get closer. Maybe someone has to get rid of a ticket or something.

I guess I'll just splurge on a t-shirt or something.

I'd have to really look, but I'm not 100% sure there is a city where two of their major sports teams have won championships in the same year.

2016 has brought the title for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Lake Erie Monsters (an AHL - not NHL - hockey team). We have the chance for baseball too.

As always, the Cleveland Browns are total losers.....so there is no way to capture all titles.

I'd say I don't care if the Indians win the Series or not, but I do. It was a right of passage when you were 11 that they'd end up in last place. And the 'maybe next year' for me is ticking down. Sure I'm only 53, but my time is running out.



Song by: Suzy Bogguss