Blog @ MoreWhat.com

Just a little note on da big futbol event this year. Those who hope to have soccer become as pppular in the US as it is elsewhere were given a leg up this week. It seems World Cup Soccer shares at least one characteristic with American sports… controversial calls by game officials.

The Americans frantically charged back from a 2-0 deficit at halftime and seemed to go ahead, 3-2, in the 86th minute on a goal that was nullified by a controversial and unexplained foul call from the referee, Koman Coulibaly of Mali.

It is axiomatic to state a given in athletic competition and the use of scoring to determine the winner. You must be ahead of your opponent by a score capable of rendering bad calls inconsequential.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Liberals in public office and elsewhere are willing and eager to punish BP for the oil spill. They are equally excited about bashing President Bush for everything they do not like. They always love to raise taxes especially for the wealthy but that doesn’t stop them from doing it to the rest of us. And certainly nothing would please them more than to cripple the recovery by making Wall Street villain of the year as their version of trickle down economics cripples Main Street as well.

So why do we never hear about liberals wanting to cap teachers salaries as they would do to all CEOs? Why don’t we hear about professors being held to the same standard of villain for getting in bed with special interest in a quid pro quo involving research? If TAs do most of the teaching why do professors command the salaries and perks they do? You can add the salaries of many others connected to education programs when asking that question.

Let’s not overlook school budgets, sports programs and coaching salaries either. Liberals cry foul that education is too expensive while athletic departments are like prostitutes for professional sports. Just like the sleazy relationships between professors and special interest funding for research the ADs as well as coaches, professional sports interests and athletic programs do little for the institutions they represent.

The current story about ‘realignment’ in college sports is a case in point. And go figure, Barry Switzer is central to making the point about college sports being sleazy.

Former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer, a coaching rival of Osborne’s in the 1970s and ’80s and longtime friend, said hearing Nebraska and the Big Ten in the same sentence doesn’t sound right.

Switzer told The Associated Press he doesn’t envy Osborne having to play a major role in the possible destruction of the Big 12, which evolved from the old Big Eight and Southwest Conference.

“I’m sure it weighs heavily on Tom,” Switzer said. “I hate to think we would lose what we have and what we built for so long. Finances are a factor, and sometimes you have to give up tradition for finances.”

McClurg said the Big 12 has been a good fit for Nebraska but the Big Ten, if it extends an invitation, could be better. It would greatly expand the school’s reach and could mean far more money for the school’s athletic programs.

“We have to seriously evaluate any opportunity that comes our way,” McClurg said, “because everybody else is doing that.”

Isn’t that special. ‘Everybody else is doing that.’ Wisdom coming from a venue of higher learning. Switzer says, ’sometimes you have to give up tradition for finances.’

American taxpayers are constantly presented with soaring expenses for education programs. And American education continues to decline when compared to other nations. There is a theory that liberals, you know, the educated elite from Ivy League diploma mills, favor dumbing down the public to enable their socialist agenda.

So crack open that beer. Remain on the couch until that next collega game is on the TV. While you’re waiting consider this.

Your interest in watching may be driven by tradition. But that’s not what drives college sports any longer. Another piece of Americana is slipping away. Let’s stop that. Refuse to be dumbed down and take a stand. Or simply crack open another beer and ignore this minor rant.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Looks like T Woods can take a short break as there is never a shortage of bad behavior in professional sports. A dominant feature in the news this past week has been the ‘exploits’ of Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Reports indicate Big Ben has two sexual assault allegations against him. One is recent and one is from 2009.

On July 17, 2009, a civil suit was filed in Washoe County, Nevada District Court accusing Roethlisberger of sexually assaulting Andrea McNulty, 31, in June 2008 in his hotel room while he was in Lake Tahoe for a celebrity golf tournament.[89] Roethlisberger is one of nine defendants listed in the docket report. McNulty did not file a criminal complaint and no physical evidence was collected.

Since it is not uncommon for celebs to be targets of, shall we say, shakedowns one may have wondered if the first case was such an event given the absence of a criminal complaint and collected evidence. That suspicion is weakened by the second allegation. And being skeptical is only fair when information is limited.

The second allegation has been taken more seriously by others. Roethlisberger faces a six game suspension and rumors of a trade, etc. One of his former teammates weighed in on a morning network television program.

Bettis told CBS News Correspondent Jeff Glor on “The Early Show” Friday the accusations against Roethlisberger “came as a shock” and are out of character. They’re not the Roethlisberger he’s known, Bettis said.

He added that a two-game suspension would serve notice on Roethlisberger and the rest of the National Football League that these types of actions are unacceptable, adding that Roethlisberger “understands” that now - and may not have before.

Roethlisberger’s accuser in the second allegation describes part of the incident below.

In her statement, the accuser said Roethlisberger encouraged her and her friends to have numerous alcoholic drinks before she was escorted by one of Roethlisberger’s bodyguards — identified by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as Coraopolis, Pa., police officer Anthony Barravecchio — into a hallway, where Roethlisberger later exposed himself to her.

Unlike the throngs anticipating the return of T Woods after exposure of his sexual lifestyle Steeler fans exhibit a contrast in reaction to the story. Granted, T Woods’ ‘exploits’ appear to have been bad choices between consenting adults whereas that is not the case with these allegations.

23% of people identifying themselves as Steelers fans said they wanted the quarterback traded.

Also, 61% said he should be fined or traded, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Only 9% favored no disciplinary action, and the rest were undecided or refused to answer.

Nonetheless, bad behavior, sexual or otherwise should not be tolerated in public or in private. Token consequences combined with a muted public response reflect the conditions in society suggesting a decline in moral standards. And if your response is ’so what’ you serve as the case in point. We should be better than this.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Mickelson Wins Masters Golf Championship American golfer Phil Mickelson has won his third Masters title in Augusta, Georgia.  Playing in the final pairing Sunday with Lee Westwood of England, Mickelson had a steady round to finish at 16-under-par 272 to add another green jacket given to the winner to his wardrobe.

Westwood had a one stroke lead over the world’s third ranked left-handed player heading into the final round.  But Westwood, the world’s No. 4 player, had some difficulties.  Mickelson took advantage and Westwood placed second at 13-under-par 275.

American Anthony Kim made a late charge and was third at 12-under-par 276.

World No. 1 Tiger Woods of the United States and South Korea’s K. J. Choi tied at fourth place at 11-under-par 277.  Both men carded the same score in each of the four rounds.  Woods was playing for the first time in five months since a sex scandal came to light in November.

Former champion Fred Couples of the United States was sixth.  The 50-year-old first round leader ended at 9-under-par 279, six strokes back.

Mickelson’s fourth major tournament victory is being called a win for his family.  His wife, Amy, and mother are both in the midst of breast cancer treatment.  Their prognosis for recovery is good.

Good for you, Phil, and your family.  As for T Woods, who cares?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Nothing like being in the right mood to publish a post on what can only be described as stupid. A baseball game just ended. It should have been one for the win column for what should be MY team… the Milwaukee Brewers. After leading since the third inning a pinch hitter for the Cards smacked a two run homer in ninth and the Brew crew went down in order in the bottom of the ninth. This is not an uncommon event for the team from brew town.

To add insult to injury a fitting annoyance was observed at a sports site while preparing this post. Wanting to represent the games’ chronology accurately a peak at the stats was in order. On arrival at the site a big picture of T Woods was presented with the title ‘destyiny of a champion.’ Excuse me while I throw up. The Masters is in session and this occasional viewer will neither watch it or the network, CBS, airing it. The whole scenario from Tiger’s dishonesty to his tabloid ’secret’ lifestyle and the public’s eagerness to ‘forgive’ (as well as his wife’s) strike me as shameless AND stupid.

Enter the original focus of this post…. healthcare. Yup, Obama won a coup d’eta with his Obamacare and while attempting to destroy the American health system he moved on quickly to doing same with our national defense and security. But some events in healthcare and reports about it are the real subject of this post. The rest was just a fun way to start this.

First, there is a report on clinical trials. The initial premise describes a situation where trials are stopped short of completion due to better than expected results. It further suggests those results are flawed.

A new international analysis of 100 clinical trials that ended early found that the results were often wrong and sometimes life-threatening.

If this doesn’t remind you of the AGW scam it should. It is as if we have been time warped back to the Dark Ages. How long will it be until we reach the age of enlightenment? Seriously folks, it really doesn’t matter whether the stupidity is the result of intentional deception or not having a clue. The outcome is not better either way.

The second report in this group features another curious announcement.

Thirteen lawmakers have sent a letter to USAID about leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and Buruli ulcer, which are in the group referred to as “neglected diseases.”

I’m sorry. Neglect is not the real problem with curing disease. This is not the first time this thought has been expressed on this blog. Given Big Pharma, a sector of the economy producing drugs, their billions in sales would be at risk if diseases were regularly eliminated by finding cures. Likewise, researchers and others who earn a living ’searching for cures’ would be out of a job (and income) if they solved the problem.

How about you don’t get another dime until you cure something?

Then there’s a report about the need for more minority doctors to serve minority patients. At first glance the proposition seems innocent enough. But after further review stupidity is observed revealing the nonsense.

“What happens with the health outcome, depends upon good communication, the trust and credibility between the health professional and the individual seeking care, and an understanding of the patient’s culture, value system, so that one can develop, hopefully, a strong relationship or interaction between the health professional and the individual,” Dr. Sullivan explained.

While living in an area liberals would define as ‘diverse’ a successful doctor once expressed a simple yet intelligent formula for dealing with patients. The doctor was white and many of his patients were not. He held that effective communication with one’s patients did much of your diagnostic work for you. Letting them speak, listening and asking the right questions provided the necessary information to solve the health problem(s).

Please, let’s not suggest that successful outcomes in medicine require the doctor and the patient to possess a shared cultural or demographic heritage.

Two reports for this post remain although there certainly are more to review. The first of these two is absolutely priceless. So is pursuing the sort of reasoning it describes. Which may help understand some of the reasons why healthcare costs continue to rise so fast. Stupidity.

To be prepared, firefighters and paramedics practice regularly. On this day, they are practicing with special equipment designed to accommodate overweight patients.

The details about the equipment are what make this report ’stupid.’ For those not fond of the metric system, if memory serves, kilograms are converted to pounds by multiplying the number of kg’s by 2.2.

This stretcher, ramp and winch system can load a patient weighing up to 680 kilograms into an ambulance.

680 x 2.2 = just under fifteen hundred pounds (1,496 lbs). You don’t need an explanation do you?

The last report is a repeat of some from the past. Caesarean Deliveries at All-Time High in US may indicate a trend in unnecessary procedures. All of these reports feature a serious case of stupid.

If you disagree, sound off. It appears there is much evidence to suggest the human species is mired in stupidity. Are we all in decline based on our recent collective performance. Has someone spiked the water? What’s the deal?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

How often does an item from a PGA Tour website appear in a Google news listing? Who knows and who really cares? Today’s offering reveals more about American culture than most things related to the sport of chasing things around a highly manicured lawn. And, go figure, the topic is Tiger Woods. Who has chased more than his fair share of golf balls on and off the green.

Here’s the question that started the discussion. Which may or may not feature real people and genuine comments or opinions.

Tiger Woods returning to golf at the Masters, April 5-11. This will be most watched golf game this year, if not EVER. Will you be watching?

The answer from this blog….. a resounding ‘no.’ But the majority of responses from the linked ‘discussion’ suggest for most all is forgiven. It is okay to break the rules. It is okay to abandon principles, ignore the guidance of good judgment and face no consequences for bad behavior. And it is okay to use wealth as a marketing tool redefining bad behavior as some sort of bizarre medical condition. Ya, the devil made me do it. Or, I have an addiction. It’s not my fault. I couldn’t help it.

I’m getting help. I’ll be okay. It wasn’t my fault. Please allow me to keep making boat loads of money. Demonstrate by your continued financial support of my lucrative enterprise that the rules don’t matter. I can do anything I want and you will not express disapproval. This is after all how society should work. No rules, no consequences, offer a mea culpa and move on.

This not so tiny microcosm of American life explains where we are. Expanded to current events in matters of government and public policy it explains why there is a culture of corruption and why it has not been reduced or eliminated. It is due to insufficient public outrage about bad behavior.

But perhaps there is evidence of reaching a tipping point and that things may change. We need to return to principles and values that provided the strength and wisdom to form and maintain this republic. Sports, like other cultural characteristics, reflect the underlying value systems held by the public at large. When we observe troubling trends it is our duty to correct it.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

If you are a fan of either the New Orleans Saints or the Indianapolis Colts Sunday’s forty-fourth Superbowl undoubtedly had special meaning for you. Likewise if you are simply a big fan of professional sports the annual premiere pigskin competition gets your undivided attention. But as the case goes for most activities these days there are many ways to analyze this year’s football finale.

Certain aspects of the event receive the lion’s share of attention each year. From the half time entertainment to the big bucks offerings from commercials during the broadcast to commentary on the ‘elites’ on the field or those occupying spectator seating at the venue. But this year presented the almost obligatory injection of politics into the fray.

Move over Janet Jackson your wardrobe malfunction may no longer occupy first place for the absurd at a Superbowl. Fortunately there was no such problem with delivering the National Anthem. And Carrie Underwood’s performance of the Star-Spangled Banner eclipsed The Who’s halftime performance as well as finding the singer’s wardrobe choice a refreshing change of pace. But that’s not the politics. It is part of the usual appraisal.

In the run up to the event news reports or op-eds and other commentary raised an issue for some liberals about the planned advertising spot from Tim Tebow and his mother. Libs of course suggested there should be no political advertising during a sporting event. Their concern was the growing public sentiment against abortion. The ad was described as the Tebow pair presenting the fact that a difficult pregnancy was not aborted and the child born grew up to be a very successful quarterback.

If you saw the ad on Sunday you may be surprised at the uproar from the libs. It was well done and the libs probably raised more attention to it than if they had just let it be. But then liberals are nothing if not neurotic.

So if you want to raise a political issue with the Superbowl how about this? Courtesy of VOA News an opening paragraph from one article on Superbowl 44.

Just four years after Hurricane Katrina decimated the city of New Orleans, the Saints are the champions of the National Football League. The New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, Sunday night in Super Bowl XLIV.

And in the same article this statement:

Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who has dedicated himself to helping both the Saints and city of New Orleans recover from 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, was named the game’s most valuable player.

An otherwise interesting additional article from VOA News examining the possibility of this Superbowl being a ‘classic’ also included something of a political reference.

A victory for the Saints would complete the resurrection of the franchise, which finished 3-13 the season before Drew Brees came to New Orleans. It would also go a long way toward instilling pride in a city still working toward recovering from the horror and devastation of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. Saints head coach Sean Payton says the team has a special relationship with the people of New Orleans.

“This is a city that really has been very close to this team through a lot of hard times. And after Katrina, when the Saints were able to get back and play in the Superdome there was certainly some symbolism that evening. I think playing good football and giving them something to be proud of is important,” he said.

The game has special meaning for Peyton Manning as well. He grew up in New Orleans, where his father Archie quarterbacked the Saints during 10 losing seasons.

There were more relevant references to NOLA that could have been made but the point is they were unnecessary. Anyone with a brain can make the connections without urging from the media. And if you are going to make an emotional case for a sad situation at least have the common courtesy to present a balanced appraisal. Like most of NOLA’s troubles are of their own making or neglect.

One title in news reports suggested someone might be making the case for balance.

Not everyone is happy for the Saints

It was really no shocker to find a sports report suggesting others in the sporting world may be unhappy with Sunday’s outcome. And in the opening the author wondered upon arriving in NOLA if he would observe a population hung over the Superbowl XLIV or ‘revving up’ for Mardi Gras then expecting both.

And President Obama hosted a Superbowl party in a week when he has renewed talk about bipartisanship in the wake of the failure of his flagship agenda item, ‘health’ reform. The lone member of the GOP invited was Joseph Cao of the LA-2 which includes most of NOLA.

It had nothing to do with the game or NOLA but a down payment on the purchase of Cao’s vote for the Demcare. Cao was the only Republican in the House to vote for it based on promises of help for NOLA from President Obama.

The point here is enough already with the wailing and gnashing of teeth about NOLA or Katrina. For about three hundred years the city has been below sea level. There is an abundance of reference material available to demonstrate the repeated failures of public officials and private interests to adequately deal with Katrina-like vulnerabilities for years. Some of that information is on this site and at this blog.

The final word on New Orleans and Katrina is get over it. Stop blaming others for problems of your own doing.

The past year has seen several dynasties reassert their dominance in U.S. sports. In this look back at 2009, the Los Angeles Lakers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, the New York Yankees and top college teams added more trophies to their collections.

The Pittsburgh Steelers made history when they won last February’s National Football League Super Bowl game played in Tampa, Florida. Their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals gave the Steelers a record sixth Super Bowl championship, one more than the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers have won in the 43 seasons the game has been played.

Pittsburgh had finished the regular season with the second best record in the AFC at 12-4 while the Cardinals squeaked into the post-season from the NFC at 9-7.

The Cardinals looked on the verge of winning their first Super Bowl title when Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger organized a drive capped by a touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes to win the game in the waning seconds.

Steelers’ coach Mike Tomlin said after the win that his team was prepared for whatever the Cardinals threw at them.

“So many times, football teams get caught up with the game not unfolding the way they envisioned it unfolding,” Tomlin said. “Or the way the media tells them it is going to unfold leading to the football game. We go into games with no preconceived notions.”

Gators clinch another title

In U.S. college football, the University of Florida Gators won the title for the second year in a row and the fourth since 1996 when they beat Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series game January 9.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow completed 18 of 30 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns in the 24-14 victory. The Gators were 13-1 for the season, with only a loss to Mississippi preventing them from going undefeated.

Carolina wins another NCAA crown

In college basketball, the University of North Carolina won its fifth NCAA men’s Division One title by beating Michigan State, 89-72, in Detroit. The win was UNC Coach Roy Williams’ second national crown in five seasons at the university he attended as a student.

“Winning the second national championship for our Alma Mater is even sweeter,” Williams said. “They [the players] have been on a magical run and, as I said last night, they took me for a fantastic ride.”

U Conn trounces Louisville in Women’s NCAA finals

In women’s college basketball, the University of Connecticut went undefeated (39-0) and won the NCAA title with a 76-54 win over Louisville. The victory gave Huskies’ coach Geno Auriemma his sixth national title and his fifth since 2000.

Auriemma said he was glad he did not have to face the disappointment of losing after his team played so well during the regular season and the tournament.

“These kids deserve it, even if I don’t, which I don’t care if I do or not. But all I kept thinking about was ‘Man, I do not want to get up tomorrow morning with that feeling,’” he said.

Meanwhile, Pat Summit, the University of Tennessee women’s coach, won her 1,000th victory in 2009. In 35 seasons in Knoxville, Summit has amassed 1,005 wins, eight national titles and 14 Southeast Conference titles.

Lakers capture 15th title

In National Basketball Association play, the Los Angeles Lakers captured their 15th title in 2009, beating the Orlando Magic in the best-of-seven finals in five games. The Lakers’ win gave Coach Phil Jackson his 10th NBA title, including four with Los Angeles and six with the Chicago Bulls. Jackson said his players deserved all the credit.

“I’ve always felt as a coach that you have to push your team,” Jackson said. “And they pushed themselves and I really feel strongly that this is about them. However, having won 10 championships is a remarkable accomplishment, there’s no doubt about it.”

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant took home his fourth NBA crown and was voted the finals Most Valuable Player. Bryant said winning his first title without former teammate Shaquille O’Neal was a great relief.

“It felt like a big-ole monkey was off my back,” Bryant said. “It just felt so good to be able to have this moment. You know for this moment to finally be here and to reflect back on the series and the season and everything that you’ve been through, - it’s top of the list, man.”

Basketball Hall of Fame inducts Jordan

One of the men who contributed to Phil Jackson reaching his milestone - former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan - was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

Jordan said at his induction ceremony that he loves basketball, and his love for the game propelled him to his amazing career achievements.

“I don’t look at this moment as the defining end to my relationship with the game of basketball,” Jordan said. “It is simply a continuation of something I started a long time ago. One day you might look up and see me playing the game at 50, because limits like fears are often just an illusion.”

In other honors, Cleveland Cavaliers guard LeBron James was named the regular season Most Valuable Player for 2009.

Yankees win world series

In Major League Baseball, the year started poorly for Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees. Before spring training, Rodriguez admitted to using steroids while he played with the Texas Rangers in 2001-2003. Then a hip injury hindered the Yankees’ third baseman, but later he would emerge as one of the team’s leaders.

The Yankees won their 27th World Series title in November with a four games to two win over the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies. The title came in the first year of the Yankees’ new $1.6 billion ballpark.

Japan’s Hideki Matsui was voted the Series’ Most Valuable Player after he hit .615 (8 for 13) with three home runs and eight runs batted in (RBI), including a World Series record-tying 6-RBI performance in Game 6. He then became a free agent, and after seven years with the Yankees signed with the Los Angeles Angels.

The Yankees’ cross-town rivals, the New York Mets, also opened a new ballpark in 2009, the $900 million Citi Field.

Buehrle pitches perfect game

Elsewhere in the Major Leagues, Chicago White Sox left-handed pitcher Mark Buehrle threw the 18th perfect game in Major League history against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 23. Buehrle threw 116 pitches and had six strike outs in the 5-0 victory, the first perfect game since Randy Johnson threw one for Arizona in 2004.

The Chicago left hander said that he had a tough time grasping the significance of his achievement.

“Any time your name gets up there with some of the greats in the game, it obviously means a lot,” Buehrle admitted. “I think it’s another thing when you sit back and retire and you see how many perfect games have been thrown in history and your name is in there, I think that’s when I will sit back and kind of be surprised.”

Penguins win NHL title

The Pittsburgh Penguins won the National (ice) Hockey League title by beating perennial favorites the Detroit Red Wings in seven games. Sidney Crosby led the Penguins with 15 playoff goals, even though he had to sit out most of the deciding game with a knee injury. It was the Penguins’ third Stanley Cup and their first since 1992.

In U.S. auto racing, stock car driver Jimmie Johnson won the NASCAR Sprint Car Championship for a record fourth straight year. At the Indy 500 race in May, Helio Castroneves of Brazil took the checkered flag for the third time in his career, just weeks after a jury had cleared him of U.S. tax evasion charges.

No triple crown winner

In U.S. horse racing, there was no Triple Crown winner - again. Jockey Calvin Borel rode two of the three Triple Crown champions, but missed a personal Triple Crown at the Belmont.

Aboard 50-1 long shot “Mine That Bird,” Borel won the Kentucky Derby May second.

Tom Dirkin shared the amazement of others watching the race as Borel rode to victory.

“Mine That Bird has come now to take the lead as they come down to the finish. And a spectacular upset! Mine That Bird has won the Kentucky Derby. An impossible result here!” the announcer exclaimed.

Borel then made the unprecedented move of changing mounts to ride “Rachel Alexandra” to the Preakness title two weeks later. However, in June’s Belmont Stakes, Borel missed a personal Triple Crown when “Summer Bird” won the New York race.

Untimely deaths

Tragedy also marked the past year in U.S. sports, as 22-year-old Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart died in a car crash April 9, just hours after he threw six scoreless innings against the Oakland A’s.

Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was killed in a bizarre murder-suicide in July. The 36-year-old McNair was found dead in his apartment next to the body of his alleged mistress.

Former Detroit Pistons coach Chuck Daly also died in 2009. The 78-year-old Daly led Detroit to two NBA titles and coached the 1992 U.S. Olympic men’s “Dream Team” in Barcelona.

Other deaths of note in 2009 included Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, former Boston Red Sox outfielder Dom DiMaggio and Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas.

The past year brought the first decade of the new millennium to a close with several long-time champions reasserting themselves. As the so-called 20-aughts (years with zeros) end, the Yankees, Lakers, Steelers and other perennial powers hope to continue their tradition of winning.

Question of the day: When have US athletes dominated in the sport of skiing?

Click the image to view the video and/or check out the one below.

And of course her cover on Sports Illustrated is being credited for starting a controversy.

related: Vonn Primed for Olympic Skiing History

How’s this for a sexy teaser?

OMG! ‘Gossip Girl’ star Blake Lively flaunts her assets with a plunging neckline on the red carpet

A successful stint on what appears to be a popular television program. A girl whose appearance is visually pleasing. Or put another way, yes, this qualifies as eye candy. OMG, sex, exploitation, perhaps a political agenda and the masses will rebel. NOT

No need to discuss all the possibilities for debate on what is presented here. Just ignore the natural inclination to weigh in and enjoy the view.

Speaking of views provides a handy transition to the next related item. OMG, controversy over one person’s, correction, two persons’ decision to make a statement about a topic apparently important to them. The piece below is spot on in its analysis.

Tim Tebow chose to take a stand about his beliefs.

It’s certainly his right. He and his mother, Pam, are scheduled to star in a Super Bowl commercial next Sunday night that advocates an anti-abortion message. It has created a firestorm among special-interest groups believing that the national communal experience that has become Super Sunday should be independent of political infiltration.

Those who disagree with their position can choose to take their television remote in hand when the ad appears on CBS and change the channel.

And finally let’s consider a story from a member of the Palin family that is not an attack piece from the MSM or lefty blogosphere.

Bristol Palin vows no more pre-marital sex - and says other women should follow her lead

Here’s a kid dealing with accepting consequences for her decisions. As they say, she chose life. And even with a great deal of support from family and friends that is no easy path. Some may continue to criticize, attack and bash the Palin’s including Bristol. But her ‘goal’ is not something to diss. In addition to what she faces for years to come, if using the media attraction to promote responsible living also comes from it she should get applause not criticism.

So that about wraps up this presentation of three sex stories. A story about an attractive young woman and her apparel which may seem tame these days. A young man and his Mom taking a stand on what they believe at some personal risk. And another attractive young woman dealing with the reality of life’s serious consequences. All of them deal with sex in some way. A topic that can use both serious and light-hearted attention. But one that we must give proper consideration to avoid serious damage and unnecessary setbacks.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

For a sports fan born and raised in northeast Wisconsin a special event took place this week. The University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Phoenix Men’s Basketball team (Horizon League) defeated their counterpart from the Big Ten, the Wisconsin Badgers. You can read the rest of the story at the link below.

Phoenix Drops Badgers, 88-84, in Overtime Thriller

Bryquis Perine (Milwaukee, Wis.) scored a career-high 22 points as Green Bay beat Wisconsin (No. 23 ESPN/USA Today, No. 20 AP) 88-84 in overtime on Wednesday night in front of a sellout crowd at the Resch Center. It was the second straight victory against a top-25 team (No. 11 Butler on Feb. 2, 2009) for the Phoenix and just the fourth ever for the Green Bay program.

It is interesting that in the past one had to attend a Phoenix game to watch one. It is reasonable to state former coach Dick Bennett put the Phoenix on the map. During those years it was difficult to acquire tickets as they sold out regularly. On the flip side, one could view the Badgers on public TV until the inception of the Big Ten network. Unless you are amenable to the purchase of cable TV or satellite offerings your viewing options in this regard are limited.

This week’s victory by the Phoenix over the Badgers presents something of a payback beyond the local loyalty involved. Am I a Badger fan, yes.. Am I a Phoenix fan, absolutely!! Has my loyalty to the Badgers suffered from the greed of top tier college sports, yes. Has my loyalty to the Phoenix been bolstered, yes. And is all this angst trivial? No!!! Why?

It is again reminiscent of a program from HBO in years past entitled ‘ When It Was a Game.’ The title suggests what is important. Similar to ‘Field of Dreams.’ the sentiment is the same. There is a fundamental attribute to the competition of sports that engages the best of human qualities. Participants in the game itself aspire to reach their highest potential. The sense of community is reinforced for spectators who naturally support the local favorite. Positive outcomes are promoted by this activity. To render it a mere entertainment commodity through commercial deals destroys its purity.

The point here is this. At one time the Badgers were minus the serious contender status for men’s college basketball. No one watched then. When they became a contender one could watch their games on broadcast television. After being a contender for a time along with the rest of the Big Ten the money boys moved them to what is essentially pay TV.

The Phoenix have followed a similar trend but the time line lags. Once unattractive, later elevated and for some time on local broadcast. Will the Horizon League at some time go the way of the Big Ten and others. Just like professional sports will everything move to pay-per-view? And does it somehow diminish the best of what sports has to offer?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

update to the broader theme of this post….

An interference call for college football by George F Will

Are you simply being a voyeur or surrendering to morbid curiosity by following the current Tiger Woods saga? Maybe. The real question that seems to be ignored in this story as well as those of John Edwards, Mark Sanford, Elliot Spitzer and others in similar situations is the other element in the equation. It takes two to tango. And the secondary consideration of ‘the other person’ rarely rates much commentary.

Understandably, a tryst involving well-known personalities or a ‘celebrity’ is rich fodder for all media sources. Especially when the celeb is married to someone else. Then comes the role model discussion and the righteous indignation from some corners of the public mindset. Whether Joanna Jagoda, Rachel Uchitel, Jaimee Grubbs or someone else in the Tiger story or the co-conspirator in other such stories the ‘other woman’ in these scandals is ‘exposed’ to little downside.

In Jaimee Grubbs Tiger is it a simple case of a gold digger of sorts exploiting the celebrity of Tiger Woods? No doubt Tiger Woods regrets this publicity. Who knows if he regrets the choices that brought it to bear? One thing seems certain. Someone like Jaimee Grubbs stands to benefit financially from the story. Some media sources pay well for the details. It feeds the frenzy. It prolongs the agony. And it really serves no worthwhile purpose.

The debate will continue on whether or not ‘celebs’ should be held to a different standard. How much privacy is a celeb entitled to after choosing the public spotlight as a career choice? But what about the creepy crawler whose only intention from the start may have been the chance for fame, fortune or other benefits at someone else’s expense? Not the least of which may be Tiger’s wife, children or other family members.

Save the righteous indignation. If it were someone obligated to honor the public trust as in elected or appointed officials in government the outrage is warranted. If you cheat on your spouse it raises other ethical questions about a public official. Perhaps that is the only time the standard should be applied. Celeb scandals may be propped up by this foolish notion that it matters only to serve the profit incentive of those who stand to gain by it.

Anyone can make a mistake. Anyone can have character less stellar than we perceive. We are all human and subject to failures. In this case, it may be righteous to give Tiger and his family a break. The same could not be said for Edwards, Sanford or Spitzer. Their professional lives involved a public trust beyond any personal obligations to others. That is a significant difference. Enough said.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Tiger Woods is an idiot (Michelle Malkin)

“I do realize that those types of things shouldn’t happen,” Adams said in that statement. “I need to specifically apologize to the Bills, their fans, our fans and the NFL.

That may be. But the goofy NFL makes little sense in handing down this fine. $250,000 from an owner for flippin’ the bird. At least two players have been fined for the same ‘offense.’ One at $7,500 and one at $10,000.

The NFL fined former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo $1 million after he pleaded guilty to a felony and suspended him for the 1999 season.

Since then, the biggest fine handed down by the NFL to an individual was $500,000 to New England coach Bill Belichick for the Spygate scandal. The league also fined the New York Jets and former coach Eric Mangini $125,000 in September for violating its rules on injury reporting with Brett Favre last season.

NFL logic apparently dictates one million for a felony, half a million for elaborate cheating, a quarter mil for flippin’ someone off and half that for breaking reporting rules.

This strategy does not seem to be working given all the ‘infractions.’ But then it’s just about the money. Nevermind the ‘bird’ infraction should not equal half of that for cheating or a quarter of what a felony raises for the league.

How much should the league be penalized for extorting the public for stadiums, overcharging for tickets and limiting viewing as they move to pay per view everything? And the college ranks are following suit. Unless you do it their way, you can watch any team but your own on traditional network broadcasts.

None of your tax dollars go to the schools featuring the college football teams, right?

The trends in sports programming combined with the feeble offerings in television overall allow one to drastically reduce if not eliminate old viewing habits. Eventually, only true couch potatoes who would watch anything as long as food and drink are available will be the revenue for the industry. But they probably know that already. Which is why they offer what they do…. too little for too much.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com