Sports For Chicks: This Chicks Sick of Gun Totin' Athletes

Ladies and Gentleman, what in the world is going on in the Wide World of Sports?  Let me rephrase..since I'm not hearing about any locker room gun totin' athletes in other countries, maybe I should say Wide World of  U.S. Sports?  Is it not bad enough that our crime rates are sky high in the streets that now we need to have issues within our sports venues?

Of course I am talking about the recent incident involving Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton of the Washington Wizards.  Arenas admits to bringing four guns into the Wizard's locker room and showing them off, allegedly with the intent of intimidating Crittenton.  The two had a difference of opinion over a gambling issue that had taken place on the Wizard's bus.  Arenas was suspended without pay on Wednesday by NBA Commissioner David Stern.  Suspended?  That's it?  So I guess if you have a contract to make $111 million, you get suspended.  Any one of us commoners with a regular 40 hr/week job would be fired...on the spot.

Well, what they do with Arenas is his business I guess, except for all the little kids who watch him play and want to be just like him.  It's kind of their business too, especially if they idolize him.  We hear this debate a lot, about the responsiblities of athletes as role models.  Apparently all the discussion is leading to a great big "goose egg", "zilch", "nada", nothin' , not even an "official time out."

Let's see, I've picked on the NBA enough, so let's talk NFL and NY Giants Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the leg because he was stupid enough to carry a handgun in his sweatpants...and then go into a club.  Yep, he's in jail.  Let's not forget Rae Carruth of the Carolina Panthers who ordered a hit on his pregnant girlfriend, and got it-- and a murder charge.  Now on to hockey.

NHL is full of violence.  Okay, its somehow permittable to beat the crap out of somebody on the ice, as long as you only use your hands.  Marty McSorley of the L.A. Kings went a step further and decided it'd be okay to use his stick a little...well a little bit of an assault charge followed.

Sports are competitive.  Rivalries are vicious. I get it. I'm not gripin' about all of this because I'm a girl and don't understand what all of the rough housing is about.  I'm griping because irresponsible people with guns result in dead people. There is nothing competitive about that.

Sports are about athleticism, competition, the last minute saves, the hail mary passes, the crack of a bat when it hits a home run, the swish of the net, the hush on the 18th green, the deafening roar of a last minute score before the buzzer.  There is no room here for guns and criminal records.  (I didn't even get into all the gambling, drugs, or domestic abuse).  If you can't play staight you don't deserve the millions.  If you can't be respectable you don't deserve our respect.

 I want to be able to watch my sports heroes and games on my sports channels.  If I wanted criminal investigations and  pleas, I'd watch one of those guy cop shows on one of those guy crime channels.

To the athletes who are playing with guns...get with it or get out.  There are too many awesome players out there who aren't in the lime light for their victories because you're hoggin' it all for your court hearings.

What Got To Me Today? Backwards Thinking

Okay people, enough is enough.  Here we are in 2010, the beginning of a new decade, nothing but new possibilities on the horizon.  Sure, there are challenges ahead with everything from the economy to H1N1 to terrorism, but with every challenge comes an opportunity to overcome it.

All I see, all I read, everywhere I look, much that I hear is talking about the "Decade From Hell 2000-2010".  I get it.  A lot of things did suck in that ten year span. I don't deny it.  I am not ignorant of it. I'm not all "rosy-colored glasses no matter what" about it.  But-- I believe we have studied the sucky outcomes.  I believe we have learned from some of them, and some of them we are still learning from.  With the exception of this learning process, I believe they are behind us.  Let's focus a little more forward, shall we?

As one of my favorite quotes says (and yes, I know it's from Disney's The Goofy Movie) "You're makin' me dizzy with your downward spiral..."

This doesn't mean we will forget.  We will never forget the losses and the tragedies.  We will honor all that was sacrificed.  That said, lets do the honorable thing and move forward.

I am not saying "Quit whining and make a better life!" because that would be totally lacking compassion and not in my character at all.  What I am saying is this:

• We have the power to make better choices for ourselves and the world we live in.

• Only we can choose how we feel, how we react and respond.  Nobody else has the power to do this for us.

• We decide how to contribute to society.

Think about this, seriously.

If we all make better decisions, do the right thing, show kindness and compassion,  move in the right direction, just think of the forward motion we will create.

As I always say...onward and upward.

Sports For Chicks: The Only Tiger Things I Want To Know

Tigers do not purr.
Tigers are the largest of the big cats.
Wild tigers are at the very top of the food chain.
If you shave a tiger it will still have stripes.
Tiger's saliva is an antiseptic (careful...try not to say it)
A single male tiger's territory can cover over 100 square miles (I know it's hard not to go there)
A male tiger's territory can overlap several female tiger's territories.  (Oh geez, and we were doing so well)
Tiger Woods is the best golfer athlete in golf history and I love to watch him play golf.

These are the only tiger things this sports chick wants to know.
 
BTW Thanks to andymcdermott.com for his facts on the real beasts, tigers.

What Got To Me Today? Three Somethings

So, as usual, I was listening to NPR on the way to take the kids to school and I was reminded of their "Three Things" series they are currently airing.  The premise of the series is asking people all around the state of Michigan what three things they can do, as individuals, to make our state better.  I don't need to spell out the economic woes we are still feeling, but I do believe we are on our way back up.  I was really quite struck by simplifying something I can do.  Three "somethings" actually, and truly what a difference we could make if we all just did three "somethings." 

My Three Somethings
1.  Buy local (really? this one seems obvious to me), made in Michigan when possible.  My favorite treat at the moment is Hanover's Michigan Mints with Dark chocolate, made in St. Johns, MI.  This also includes Farmer's Markets and roadside produce stands--no preservatives!.

2.  Donate stuff.  Yup, I have a house full of "stuff" that I'm not using and right now, let me tell you, there are plenty of people who need your stuff !  I bet many of us have one shelf (or more) in the linen closet of bedding or blankets that we haven't touched in five years.  Well, there's a shelter somewhere, not far from your linen closet, that would really appreciate that blanket.  Or, clothes, toys, even food to the food bank.  Clear the clutter out of your life people--and do some good with it.

3.  Volunteer.  Especially in schools.  The budget for education in our state stinks, to be polite, --a perfect place for you to help.  Help in the lunchroom. Volunteer to help with literacy (if you can read, you can help), donate the scrapbooking stuff piled up in the basement for two years to a local art class or afterschool program.  Michigan school kids need our help. 

So those are my three "somethings".  I hope you'll take a second to ponder what your three "somethings" are. All of us would sure make a lot of "somethings" and wouldn't that just be great for Michigan!

Sports For Chicks. This Chicks Passion For Football

Today wraps up the last day of the regular season for NFL Football.  If you've never taken a moment to appreciate football--I suggest you do.  It's got drama, excitement, suspense, speed and leading men, baby!  Once you're with a team (for me it's the LIONS) a bond is formed between team and fan and there's no looking back, you'll be hooked.

Nothing is like the final play for the win, with 11 seconds on the clock, the ball snaps, the QB's got it, the offensive line does everything they can to keep the defense from clobbering your guy, 8 seconds, 7, the receiver in a mad sprint down field, chased down by two beefy villains panting behind him!  Finally, 4 seconds, the ball is in the air, the receiver is at the 5 yard line, the 4, the ball drops into his hands, it topples, he almost drops it!  The villain tips it, they both are reaching for it, still bobbling, their huge bodies (big beefy guy bodies) collide and their massive legs trip each other up.  They fall together hard into the end zone, no ball in sight.  Two huge men bounce off the turf, the whistle blows, no more clock.  Who will come up with the ball?  Can it get more exciting?

  Yes, it can!  You see the ball--your guy has it!  Complete pass. TOUCHDOWN!  He stands, he growls, he slams the ball to the ground in victory.  The crowd is deafening and on their feet--and you are too--off the couch, a high five to your kids, a victory kiss with your husband.  You're exhilarated, there are tears in your eyes.  Yes!  The underdog proves triumphant, pride abounds both on the field and in the suburbs in your living room.

It's true, the LIONS had a rough season, but it was better than the last, and for that I am grateful.  For now my LIONS blue nail polish will retire until next season, but until then, my roar will be loud enough to be heard from the burbs, through to next August, when my big beefy guys take to the practice field in Allen Park.

And just because my team is out, doesn't mean I've lost interest.  Now it's the NFL Playoffs baby!  Right now I'm behind the Vikings---Go Brett! (Brett Favre for those of you who don't follow)  Prove to everyone that your fountain of youth does  exist and their is still athletic greatness at 40!

What Got To Me Today? China

Every now and then I'll probably mention my Aunt Pat to you...she sends me the most awesome mail...clips from newspapers, articles from magazines and comics, and hand-written letters instead of emails---love it!.  Today I received an envelope full of goodies which did not disappoint.  One of the comics she sent was a Dennis The Menace one by Hank Ketcham.  In the illustration Dennis is sitting in his jammies, and it looks like Dad is about to read him a story.  Dennis says to his dad "If God made everything, He must live in China."

Well, first reaction, pretty funny.  It's true, "Made in China" stickers are on just about everything.  PAUSE.  Say again.."Made in China" stickers are on just about EVERYTHING!  Not too funny, when you think about it.  So this is what got to me today and what has gotten to me for many days.

When are we going to insist, as consumers, that enough is enough?  We've already had our children endangered by lead poisoning on toys coming from China (if that doesn't do it, not sure what will!), we've lost millions of American jobs outsourced to China, and we continue to borrow from China, because they are wealthy, and why are they wealthy?  Because we are buying American products from Chinese factories.  What??  Is this ludicrous to anyone else? ( I won't even go into why it's cheaper to make products there, how employees are mistreated and paid dollars per week, and have no human rights, let alone Codes of Business conduct.)

  When are we going to resist buying cheap and buy local instead? Now I know, there are some things you just can't get locally---your kid's favorite toy, your husbands game system...I get it. And then there is the argument that local is more expensive.  Well, it's only more expensive because enough people aren't buying locally.  Increase the demand and prices will go down.  I'm not saying I don't have things in my house made in China. Guilty as charged.  But I am trying to make some different choices these days. And if half the country can get their head around buying Freedom fries instead of French fries...I'd like to think we can get our heads around buying American. 

Many towns and cities are implementing campaigns to help consumers keep their dollars local, if not in your city, then your state, your country. Check your local City websites, Chambers of Commerce and Merchant's Associations.  Go to your state websites and look under their business tabs. Put "buy local campaigns" into your search engine and you'll be amazed at all the tips and resources. When you can, support your local businesses before heading to the "We've- got -everything -you -need -under-one -roof -and -we- have- it -for- cheap -because -we -are-harming -American- business- Mart".   If you love love love department stores, many of them have "Made In the USA" sections now. Lastly, vote in leaders who support local commerce. 

We the people have A LOT of power, baby.  Let's use it to put our country back to work, make China think about regulations and how to treat their own people, and get the "Made in China" stickers off of our kid's toys.

No condescension. please.

This is an essay I wrote a few years ago while I was still working as a cable splicer. During that time, I often wrote about "things that got to me today" whether they made me angry, happy, moved, whatever. I'll be posting them every so often, to get some old essays out of the drawer and up on the screen. Enjoy, and may us all try and remember we are in this world together.


WOMAN ON A SIDEWALK


I work for a utility company. I drive a big, white, dirty truck and get dirty every day. I don’t like my job, but appreciate that I have one. I attend college so I can someday, leave my job to do something I enjoy. For now though, it is a job that pays half of the bills my husband and I have to provide for our family.

Today, while working out of my big, white, dirty truck, getting my jeans and work boots equally dirty, I encountered a woman on the sidewalk. She, this woman, got to me enough that I am writing this essay about her.

I was working at a location at the entrance of a very nice, elite if you will, single family home community. In order to perform my job most efficiently and out of the way, I had to temporarily park my truck in a way that blocked the sidewalk. The city will not allow me to take up a lane on the main road. If I park in the narrow, one-way entry to the fancy subdivision, I would block large vehicles, delivery trucks and school buses. I don’t want to park on the subdivision’s landscape at it’s entrance, for it’s maintenance manager would surely run me off. So, block the sidewalk it is, only temporarily. I’d be sure to hurry.

There was quite a bit of foot traffic, all very friendly. Some smiling, saying “hello.” I would apologize for blocking the walk. “No problem, you’re just fine” they would say, and then quickly walk around my big, white, work truck.

If they stepped to the right around the truck, they would walk on dry grass. To the left were wood chips framing the entrance sign to the neighborhood. There was no mud, not a ditch, not a rock cliff or a bowl of quick sand, just grass and wood chips.

So this brings me to the woman who inspired me to write down the events of the day. She was blonde, casually but expensively dressed, kind of the $300 version of a sweat suit, with white tennis shoes. She wore her hair in a conservative bob and was about my age, mid thirties. I don’t know another thing about her other than she had walked out of this high end housing community where I was working.

She quickly looked me over in my dirty jeans and boots, and as snootily as anyone I have ever heard, she loudly whined “Do you have to block the sidewalk?”

She was visibly irritated. I quickly, and in my very professional utility voice, apologized and started to briefly explain my parking options when she interrupted–really fuming- “well, it makes it so difficult! I shouldn’t have to walk around you!”

It was as if to say, you are just a dirty utility company worker and I am a stay -at- home- whatever on my nine o’clock power walk and because of you, my $200 tennies are going to have to step off of the pavement. (Dry grass or wood chips, not certain death).

I am not sure why she was so unfriendly, so condescending. Maybe her well- to -do life on the inside of her upper scale home isn’t as pretty as it is on the outside. Maybe her dog died, or she’s got a cold, or her marriage sucks, or maybe her Lexus is in the shop. Truthfully though, I’ll feel better not to judge her, make assumptions.

It is true, I am a blue collar utility worker with a big truck and dirty work clothes. But I am a stay at home mom and wife too, it’s just that that part of the day doesn’t start for me until 3:30 pm. I too, pick up my kids from school, spend quality time with them, help with homework, give baths, cook dinner, clean house, do laundry, play in the sand box, trek the kids to wrestling, football, family reading night, music concerts and book fairs.

Speaking of my kids, my boys are well adjusted, well rounded, affectionate, funny and in the tops of their classes. They have many friends, all of which I know.

Oh, and after the kids are in bed, I do MY homework so I can complete my degree, because unbeknown to the lady on the sidewalk, I have a brain. And of course, I am extremely fortunate to have a helpful, understanding husband who wants me to succeed, who wants to relieve any stress I have in any way that he can. And that, my elite friend, is just Monday through Friday.

So I guess my point is this: What really got to me today? A woman who judged me solely on my appearance, my occupation and the fact that my truck was going to move her twelve inches off of her daily power walk route. She was rude and inconsiderate to my situation. In her world, she was the only one that mattered and screw anyone else and what they might need.

It comes down to this. I don’t like or respect rude, mean people. The world would be a lot better if people were nice and considerate to one another, no matter their differences, whether it be race, gender, or like today, social class. I do believe I am a happier woman than the one I met on the sidewalk I am thankful to have such a good life, and hope one day she can find a good life too. Maybe then she, too, will be happy, and not feel obligated to look down, let alone speak down, on others.