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!