America The Beautiful!

America has always been the "land of opportunity".  It is evident in our current political situation.  It is also evident in the sporting world.  They always say that sports imitate life, or is that art?  Well whatever.  All I know is that it has been brought to my attention that there have been some strange happenings in sports recently that prove everything in America is relative to the situation.  Relativity, I believe, is the key to sanity.  So let's take a look at these recent developments and see how relative they are to the current situation.  

My first beef is actually with the media.  That's right British tabloids, American media, your all the same.  You want to take a shot at anyone you feel deserves it.  But really a 23 year old kid smoking pot in a dorm room?  I was more shocked when I found out that baseball players were using steroids, and that didn't exactly throw me for a loop.  Let me tell you, Michael Phelps is a kid, no matter how good he is at swimming, he is still a kid.  He goes to college and he makes millions of dollars.  If you gave me millions of dollars while I was in college I would've smoked better weed.  Listen America if we want perfect super stars create them in a  comic book, don't exalt a 23 year old kid who is good at a sport.  That goes for all the stars in sports.  They are kids with money do not be surprised if they fuck up every now and again.  That doesn't mean they shouldn't be reprimanded and punished. Anyone who is in the public eye needs to be more conscience of their actions and if they are not they should accept whatever consequences are handed down.  So here is my official stance on the Michael Phelps issue.  He is an idiot, but what can you expect from a 23 year old millionaire?  I think that the real problem here is who we put in the national spotlight.  The guy who took this picture and sold it is a douche bag and should be punched in the taint.  But Michael Phelps this is ultimately your fault.   I give you the same advice I would give any pro athlete, smoke all the weed you want but do it in your house with no one around.  If it is not fun then Mr. Phelps, you should think about why you are smoking pot in the first place.

I am going to describe someone real quick and you the reader try to guess who he is.  Sounds like fun right.  This person was arrested on marijuana charges less than a year ago.  He has continually been in trouble at his job for what we will refer to as "behavioral problems".  He also has a high school state championship and a NCAA national championship.  And last but not least during the biggest week of his career he has admitted to selling drugs.  I know what your thinking, he is an expendable member of the workforce and probably doesn't have a job anymore.  Nope he is the Super bowl MVP, Santonio Holmes, and he has been forgiven.  Apparently 9 receptions for 131 yards erases your sins.  Look I don't have a problem with Holmes winning the MVP.  I actually think it is great.  But if Michael Phelps is a jack ass then so is this kid.  Here is my official decision on Holmes.  He may be an idiot, but at least he is honest.  Most NFL players want us to believe they are saints and when they drop the ball we are all appalled.  This kid admitted to dealing drugs, and when he gets caught with marijuana we will all just write it off as a submission to old demons.  I think he deserves to be the Super Bowl MVP.  That is an on the field accolade and he earned it.  But a Disney Parade with a former drug dealer as the main attraction is a little much.

I am actually going to end this blog on a sad note.  There is a side to professional football that few fans know about.  Older players, the one's that built this game, are living and dying in poverty and pain.  They didn't make a whole lot of money.  These old players built the game on passion and pride.  They are the reason that the stars of today are millionaires 100 times over.  But the current players, like the rest of my disrespectful generation, don't seem to grasp this idea.  The newest debacle, in a long line of debacles, comes in the form of a failure to pay money that is owed.  Mike Ditka, along with current player Matt Birk, and former player Michael Irvin, has pushed to get players to donate to the Gridiron Greats Association Funds.  There are 1,696 players in the NFL that collected a check on December 21st, the one that the activists for the fund asked players to donate from.  As of today there were approximately 15 players who donated.  It is sad.  But it ultimately represents the lack of respect my generation has for the people who led the way for our successes.  My final decision on the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund is this.  I believe that it is on the current players, most of which make plenty of money, to at least help with the finances of the older players.  Suck it up super stars.  It is time that we showed a little appreciation for the one's who paved our way.

These are a few of the stories that have graced the sports shows.   I would like to thank John for bringing them all to my attention.  My mind has been clouded with the upcoming birth of my daughter and I can always count on him to blow me, hmm I mean show me the opportunities to write something good.  Thanks John.  Live like no one is watching and listen to your big brother he is usually right, except when he roots for strange amphibians!